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0 Preface 1
Sharon, write a book about your dad! The voice was so distinct that it jerked me awake!
2 An Unmatched Pair 9
Daisy Green Roland’s mother, was born to a wealthy family in England. Her father,
William Green, was the captain on the last large English sailing vessel, the William Tell...
in America, life for Daisy Green was quite different than what she had been used to in
England. There were no more maids ... In direct contrast to Daisy, Hoyt Buck was from a
very poor family in Missouri ... Hoyt came from a family background that was not religious
at all ...
3 Seven Bucks 11
It was the beginning of the Great Depression. Times were hard for the Bucks as the
children began to arrive.
4 Rollie 13
One day while they were exploring, they found the tallest tree they had ever seen. The
two just couldn’t resist the challenge ... Suddenly Roland lost his footing, and fell to the
bottom of the tree. He landed squarely on his back, and lay there as though dead.
5 The Fleas 17
Every once in a while, Roland would come home from school all tattered and torn with
a black eye. He never started fights, but he surely defended himself. When his family gave
3
4 CONTENTS
him too much sympathy, he would always say with a twinkle in his eye, ”Oh, but you ought
to see the other guy!”
8 Charm 31
Surely no young men would find us in this obscure area of ministry! How beautiful it is
when we give our lives to the Lord. He takes care of us in every way without manipulation
on our part!
9 Ministry Unfolding 35
Bob Slagel ... was about fifteen. He was the ring leader of the street gang in Gooding...
Bob was in the back of the church with his friends causing a ruckus. Daddy came quietly
up behind Bob, scooped him up around the middle, and literally carried him up to the front
and placed him right in the center of that prayer circle.
10 Boise 41
Since daddy had not taken any increase in salary through the years in order to make sure
the new building was completed, he was faced with the fact that his family had grown, prices
had gone up, but he was making the same amount of money, To help make ends meet, he
put ads in the paper for remodeling houses and painting, inside and out. He would also buy
an old car, fix it up, and sell it for a profit. He was a very busy man. He did pretty well,
except when he would come home from a painting job to find a call waiting for him to go
to the hospital or to see someone. He would then have to quickly change his work clothes,
do his visiting, come back and change again. He felt during those years that he did nothing
but change clothes.
the jack to work, so with his great strength, he lifted up the little English Ford Anglia, and
held it up while mother changed the tire. This wasn’t the first he had held up a light car
but this time he didn’t feel well afterwards. Several days later, he went to the doctor who
told him to rest. He continued to grow weaker and finally went to a heart specialist. The
specialist told him to report immediately to emergency. He had experienced a mild heart
attack, but because he had waited, infection had set in and was raging through his body.
By the time he got to the hospital, he was so weak that he could not even pick up his watch.
He was out of his pulpit from the day after Easter until June.
16 Queenie 81
One of the things that Queenie loved about the school year was the different lunches
the kids would bring. They soon learned not to stand with their arms down if they had a
6 CONTENTS
sandwich in their hand, because Queenie would think it was for her and would very quietly
help herself.
was and am a brand new person. In Pastor Buck’s eyes as well as God’s, I am not an
ex-homosexual, but a first-class citizen of the kingdom, made as though I had never sinned.
30 Coronation 147
Day I know what is going through some of our minds if we’re not totally tuned in. We say,
’Well, Pastor Buck was arriving at the very peak of his efficiency, what could God possibly
have in mind taking Pastor Buck away from all of this tremendous acceptance?
32 Afterword 155
Have You Confirmed Your Reservation? Daddy used to say that Jesus reserved a place
for everyone in heaven by His sacrifice at Calvary, but it’s up to each individual to confirm,
or pick up that reservation that Christ made for them.
List of Figures
9
10 LIST OF FIGURES
19.1 Interviews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
19.2 Giving Autograph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Preface
Sharon, write a book about your dad! The with me about things I was already thinking
voice was so distinct that it jerked me awake! about, or He would give me ideas for our mu-
I had been half asleep no a plane to Virginia. sical productions. His speaking to my heart
My mother and I were going to speak and this time was so startling, because writing a
sing at one of the meetings that had been book was the furthest thing from my mind.
scheduled before dad’s death. I thought, ”Lord, you know I have tried to
I shook my head to clear it and settled right write something about my dad since I was in
back down to my nap. We had been flying high school, and I’ve never finished anything.
for about five hours. I had been so excited My mind would get so far ahead of my pencil
because it was my first long plane trip. I had that I would quit in frustration.”
never been this far across the country. Now My dad and I were very close. I had worked
the excitement was wearing off. The plane’s with him as his minister of music for nine
engines were humming smoothly. It was a years; and being the oldest of four children,
beautiful day high above the clouds. I began I was kind of his experiment, his frustration
to drift off again. and his delight. When I was in high school,
Sharon, write a book about your dad! I thru college and even a few months before
sat up startled and wide awake! My heart his death, I had tried over and over to write
was beating a mile a minute. I had butter- an article about my dad for the Reader’s Di-
flies in my stomach. I knew the voice and it gest. I had planned to send it to the Digest’s
was much louder now. I looked at my mother, ”My Most Unforgettable Character!” There
who was calmly thumbing thru a magazine. was absolutely no doubt in my mind that it
All around me passengers were sleeping or would be accepted. I could just imagine my-
talking softly. This wasn’t the first time the self giving it to dad as a Father’s Day present.
Lord had definitely spoken to my heart. As ”Oh, by the way, Daddy, there’s a little ar-
a music minister at Central Assembly, I had ticle about you in this Reader’s Digest you
been awakened in the middle of the night might like to read!” I could just imagine his
innumerable times as the Lord would speak excitement and pride. But now he was gone,
1
2 CHAPTER 0. PREFACE
and I thought that this dream had been laid shaking His head, sighing a little, and then
to rest with him. He said, just as clear as a bell, Sharon, make
I reminded the Lord of this and my frus- an outline first. I’ll help you. And He did.
tration in writing about Daddy in the past, He impressed me to get information from all
and the Lord just very simply said, Get a the family members and people who had been
dictaphone and tell his story. associated with my father in his growing up
Mom and I had a wonderful time in Vir- years.
ginia. I decided not to mention to anyone the As a bonus, my uncle, Paul Williscroft just
way the Lord had spoken to me, not even my ”happened” to visit from Germany at this
husband. That way, if I never did anything time. He had been in the publishing busi-
about it, nobody could laugh at me. ness for many years as part of his missionary
I returned home, and decided to sleep on outreach. My uncle told me I was on the right
my first morning back because I was feeling a track in everything I was doing. He felt the
little jet lag. I was just dozing off when those outline was solid, the idea of getting input
butterflies started again, my heart began from family members and friends was great,
pounding, and the Lord said, What about but I needed to go a step further. He told me
that dictaphone? ”Not now, Lord,” I said, ”I I should share with the people in our congre-
want to sleep!” No way! I tossed and turned, gation what I was doing, and get input from
and over and over in my heart, the Lord kept them. I told him, ”That means I have to tell
saying, Get that dictaphone! I finally said people, and then I’ll be committed to write
okay, called a business supply firm, arranged the book or really look silly!”
to rent a dictaphone, and immediately fell I did share with the congregation, and they
asleep. were all so excited. Sure enough, people
When the young man delivered the dicta- began to ask me every time they saw me,
phone, I told him I would only need it for a ”How’s the book coming?” This meant I had
couple of days because I was going to write a to get started. It felt good the day I could
book about my father. He looked at me kind truthfully say, ”The book is coming along
of funny, and said, ”You’re going to write a great!”
book in a couple of days?” I said, ”Sure!” I knew that my husband Alan, who is an
To make a long story short, I sat down with artist, would design the cover. The rest of
the little dictaphone and said, ”Okay, Lord, the book would be just me and the Lord. It
let’s go, fill my mouth!” I started telling my was exciting to me to realize that Alan was
story. It took almost ten minutes. I sud- also a super editor. I didn’t have to worry
denly realized that I didn’t have enough in- about paragraphs, punctuation, or anything
formation. I said, ”Lord, I thought you and that would stop my flow of thought. I could
I were going to write this book. I thought just set my typewriter on fire, and he would
you were going to speak through me into this take my rough drafts, and put them in good
dictaphone.” I can imagine the Lord smiling, order. We discovered we were really a great
3
team.
As I wrote the last chapter, ”Coronation
Day,” the presence of the Lord so filled my
office that I finally had to leave. It took sev-
eral hours for the tingling in my body and
the shakiness in my knees to subside.
One year later, the book that was going
to take just a couple of days was complete.
Writing about my precious father was a spe-
cial time in my life. Now everyone who reads
his book, Angels on Assignment, will under-
stand the kind of person he really was. I felt
the Lord helping me as I wrote every page.
I pray that this book will be a blessing and
encouragement to all who read it.
4 CHAPTER 0. PREFACE
Chapter 1
The stars were still twinkling in the dark- was an unusually strong man, the grip on his
ness. Soon the first faint light of dawn would shoulders was so powerful, he couldn’t even
streak the skies. Summer was just beginning move. Pastor Buck’s heart was beating like a
that early June morning (1978). In down- sledgehammer. Was he awake or asleep? The
town Boise, St. Michael’s Cathedral bells two strong hands sat him up in bed. Against
struck 3 AM. Here and there the fragrance of the faint light coming thru the window, he
the early summer roses was wafted by a slight could see the outline of a huge form. A voice
breeze, Boise slept. What would those sleep- boomed out, ”Pastor, I have a message for
ing people have said had they known that you from the Father. A message that He will
this day, in the twentieth century, the angel help you bring to the whole world!”
Gabriel would be sent from God to a parson- In the weeks prior to this, God had really
age on the outskirts of their town, sent to one laid the plight of families on Pastor Buck’s
of their own pastors, with a message directly heart. In his counseling ministry, he noticed
from the heart of God? that it seemed as if the enemy was trying to
Pastor Roland Buck had pastored in Boise get at God by attacking the very foundations
for twenty-nine years. These had been good of the home. As a result he had been preach-
years, years of steady growth in his church, ing messages on the family, and how much it
seeing many people meet Jesus Christ. He means to God.
was a man solid in his faith. His congregation The angel went on, ”The Father has no-
loved him, his family adored him. He and his ticed your concern, and He is happy with
wife, Charmian had a beautiful relationship you. He wants you to tell people that He
that had grown strong in thirty-six years of has heard their prayers for their families, and
marriage. He is sending a host of angels over the whole
Pastor Buck was in a deep sleep, enjoying earth to push, prod, and do whatever is nec-
the rest of a man who is at peace with his Cre- essary to bring people to a point of accepting
ator. Suddenly his sleep was shattered. He Him.”
was grasped by two giant hands! Although he The sun had risen when the angel finally
5
6 CHAPTER 1. WHO WAS ROLAND BUCK?
left. He had illuminated many beautiful speak to you and to tell you this good news.”
truths from God’s Word to Pastor Buck’s That Sunday, Pastor Buck laid his credi-
heart during this visit. The angel told him to bility on the line, along with the twenty-nine
bring the message of God’s care to his con- years he had ministered in Boise, and obeyed
gregation that Sunday morning. God by sharing the message given by divine
Pastor Buck had already prepared a good messenger. It was entitled, ”Good News for
message for his congregation. He shared with You and Your Family!”
his wife what had happened to him. He said In the two years that followed, Pastor Buck
to her, ”I’ve been here for twenty-nine years had twenty six more visits from the angels.
and I have built up credibility in this com- Many of these are described in his book, An-
munity. How can I share this?” gels on Assignment as told by him to Charles
He finally decided to wait, and he gave the and Frances Hunter. The last nine visits are
message he had prepared. shared in this book.
Two weeks passed and, once again, he was This is the story of the man, Roland Buck,
awakened by the same big hands sitting him a man chosen by God to bring a message to
up in bed. ”Pastor,” the angel said, ”you the world. A message telling of God’s love
haven’t given the message that the Father and care. A message letting people know that
told you to give!” Pastor Buck said, ”Oh, but God is and always will be in control of the
I will, I will!” He expected the angel to chide affairs of man. Roland Buck was not a mys-
with him, but instead he said, ”The Father tical person, and he was not super spiritual.
knows how you feel, and He will be with you, He was simply an ordinary man who obeyed
and help you to obey Him!” God and his obedience led up to that moment
Pastor Buck then asked the angel, ”Who of destiny in the wee hours of the morning of
are you?” The angel replied, ”I am mentioned June 18, 1978.
in Luke 1:13-19.” My dad was a great storyteller and thru
Again that night the angel shared with the years I had been treated to many sto-
Pastor Buck for many hours about the beau- ries from his childhood. When I began to re-
tiful nature of God. Both times the angel search his life for this book; and as his broth-
had been there, pastor was overwhelmed by ers, sisters and friends shared bits and pieces
the presence of God that radiated from him. of the memories they had, I was thrilled. I
It was so awesome that he could hardly talk saw the thread of God’s presence and direc-
about this experience for some time. tion in his life stretching back before he was
The next morning, Pastor Buck and born. I began to understand why my father
Charmian looked up the Scripture references was the kind of person I loved so dearly.
that had been given by the angel to let them I’m going to step out of the picture in the
know who he was. They were overwhelmed as next few chapters and tell the story of his life
they read Luke 1:19, ”I am Gabriel. I stand in before I came on the scene as it was told to
the presence of God, and I have been sent to me by his family and friends, all wrapped up
7
An Unmatched Pair
9
10 CHAPTER 2. AN UNMATCHED PAIR
Seven Bucks
It was the beginning of the Great Depres- the way while her boyfriends were visiting!
sion. Times were hard for the Bucks as the Then there was Dorothy. ”Dot” was a
children began to arrive. curly-haired tomboy. She was good in sports,
First came Al Buck, who is now Chairman and a self-appointed protector of the younger
of the board for the Buck Knife Company, children. She and her husband, the late
which is known world wide. The formula George Garka, owned a lumber mill in Ev-
for the original Buck Knife was developed by erett, Washington for many years. The Buck
Hoyt’s father. brothers and sisters say that Dot has been the
The second child, Gladys, is now a mis- catalyst that has kept the family together by
sionary in Germany with her husband Paul keeping in touch with each one, and plan-
Williscroft. They spent two years in Danzig ning delightful family reunions. Since her
before the war and have been working in Ger- husband’s death, this spunky lady has trav-
many and Eastern Europe for the past thirty eled to many foreign lands, and given finan-
years. Together they have worked in the cial assistance to missionary families as she
Bible school in Germany, established a youth was able. Dot is not only loved by her own
center, started and conducted youth camps, many grandchildren and great grandchildren
held seminars for Christian workers and pas- but wherever she has gone, she has been
tors and have been heavily involved in liter- adopted as ”auntie” or ”grandma” by the
ature preparation and distribution for both children with whom she has come in contact.
sides of the Iron Curtain. George was next. He is described as being
Roland always described his sister Gladys, quick-tempered, and would always get into
as a vivacious, sparkling girl, very gracious scrapes. George was impulsive and would act
and feminine, with lots of boyfriends. She without thinking, but inside he had a heart
used to receive boxes of chocolates, which of gold. He was one of his mother’s favorites.
the younger children loved because she always He became a prominent businessman in Cali-
shared them. In fact, she would promise each fornia before he retired. He and Roland were
of them a chocolate if they would stay out of very close as youngsters.
11
12 CHAPTER 3. SEVEN BUCKS
Rollie
Roland was born June 13, 1918, in Everett, Rollie again, as life settled back to normal.
Washington. He was a large baby, weighing He was such an honest, trusting child, it was
in at twelve pounds! He had curly, white- easy to take advantage of him, and tell him
blonde hair and blue eyes. He was a happy all kinds of tall stories. He soon caught on
baby. to their teasing. When he wanted to make
From the time that Roland was a small sure somebody was telling him the truth, he
child, it was evident that God had His hand would look up at them with his big blue eyes,
upon his life, but God intervened. square his dimpled little chin, and tell them
The first time he nearly died, he was two to ”say honest!” If they did, then he would
years old. His older brothers and sisters, believe them. His nickname, therefore, when
thinking that they were giving a treat, fed he was small was, ”Little Say Honest.”
him some unripe blackberries. Roland be- Roland nearly lost his life again when he
came violently ill and began to have convul- was about six. He and his older brother,
sions, one right after another. The children George, loved to climb trees. They lived near
all stayed in the carriage house that night, the forest and spent many, happy hours play-
while in the main house the doctor was des- ing in the woods.
perately trying to save his life. It was a long One day while they were exploring, they
night for the Buck family. The children were found the tallest tree they had ever seen. The
so frightened because they were unwittingly two just couldn’t resist the challenge. They
responsible. decided to climb it. They began to climb
Morning finally came, and the weary doc- higher and higher, nearly to the top. Sud-
tor told the waiting family that their little denly Roland lost his footing, and fell to the
towheaded Rollie was going to live. What a bottom of the tree. He landed squarely on his
relief! The family was overjoyed. And Rollie back, and lay there as though dead. George
basked in the attentions of his brothers and slowly climbed down. His heart felt like it
sisters. was beating in his throat. It seemed to take
The Buck children were soon teasing little him forever, but he finally reached the bot-
13
14 CHAPTER 4. ROLLIE
The Fleas
Daisy’s relatives in England were horrified her little brothers and sisters. She couldn’t be
when they learned that the Buck children with them all the time, but when she was, a
were going to public schools. They would lot of kids went home with headaches!
have been thoroughly shaken if they had Every once in a while, Roland would come
known the circumstances surrounding those home from school all tattered and torn with
school days. a black eye. He never started fights, but he
There was little money for clothes for the surely defended himself. When his family
Bucks, so they dressed very poorly. They gave him too much sympathy, he would al-
weren’t alone. During those depression years, ways say with a twinkle in his eye, ”Oh, but
there were a lot of people in similar circum- you ought to see the other guy!”
stances. There was another problem, how- Roland often told the following story to de-
ever, which made one of their school years pict how Christians could face the enemy or
miserable. adversity when Christ, as their big brother,
One of the houses they lived in was infested was on their side.
with fleas. Daisy, a frail, little person, who There was a bully who loved to torment
had never been trained for housekeeping, re- the smaller boys in the schoolyard and on the
ally had her hands full with so many children, bus. He especially picked on little Rollie. One
so they all just lived with the fleas. When day Roland’s older brother, Al, came home
the Buck children went to school with little from the Navy for a visit. Rollie asked him
red bites all over them, they didn’t realize to ride to school with him. That day, on the
that there was anything socially unacceptable bus, Roland went right up to that big bully
about frankly telling the other children that who had made his life so miserable and kicked
those were flea bites. Their eyes were opened, him in the shins. He then proceeded to make
when the other children began to tauntingly faces at him, dance around him just out of
call them ”The Fleas!” reach and tease him unmercifully.
It was a hard year for all of them. Dot The bully could not understand what
made good use of her lunch bucket, defending would make Rollie take his life in his hands
17
18 CHAPTER 5. THE FLEAS
this way and, finally, he had had enough. He just off Whidley Island. They were going
made a lunge for Roland. Just as he was clos- to camp out for a few days. Halfway be-
ing in for the kill, big brother Al stepped into tween the two islands, they were suddenly
the picture. Al didn’t ask questions. He just surrounded by a school of whales, each about
picked the boy up by the seat of his pants, twelve to fourteen feet long.
and left a firm foot print as he kicked him George was terrified, but Roland showed
right off the bus. another trait which he exercised for the rest
One of the adventures during Roland’s of his life. He was cool in the face of dan-
Tom Sawyer youth involved his brother, ger or emergency. He said to his terrified
George, and another friend. George decided older brother, ”Just sit still, ignore them,
that he was going to earn his Boy Scout life- and they’ll probably go away.” That wasn’t
saving badge, but he didn’t want to wait hard advice to follow, because George and
around for somebody to fall in the lake so the other boy were literally paralyzed with
that he could rescue him. He was pretty fear. The whales nosed around the raft a lit-
sure that would never happen, at least not tle bit, caused it to bounce up and down in
soon enough for him. He devised a scheme, the waves, then went on their way.
whereby he and Roland would take an un- Times were hard for people everywhere
suspecting friend who couldn’t swim out into during the Great Depression. There was the
the middle of the river on their raft. Then winter of the big snows. The water in the
George would push the boy off the raft and Buck’s house froze so the family moved into
jump in to save him. Roland was supposed to the living room where they could at least be
verify that George did this. He argued vehe- warmed by the fire. They lived on cornmeal
mently with George against it, but George’s mush with skim milk that the neighbors gave
mind was made up. Roland decided he might them. The following summer Hoyt started a
as well go along with George since he was go- big garden. The vegetables from that garden
ing to do it anyway. tasted so good after all that mush.
The day came when George, Roland and The Buck family moved to a place with a
the unsuspecting victim took off on a raft big apple orchard on one side of the house.
down the Pilchuck River. Sure enough, The children picked apples in the fall, and put
George pushed the boy off the raft at a point them in sacks. Hoyt would then take them
in the river he had previously picked out, then into town and sell them door to door in order
he rescued him. They rowed the raft back to earn money to feed his family.
to shore, but George had such a guilty con- In 1928 when Roland was ten years old,
science, he never could claim that lifesaving the whole family came into a real spiritual
badge. renewal in an old theater in the town of Sno-
On another lazy summer day, George, homish, Washington. Hoyt was a minister
Roland and another friend decided to row in the Christian church at the time. Neither
their little homemade raft over to an island, he, nor anyone in his family, understood the
19
the compassionate nature of Christ began to so specially, would stay up thru the night to
stand out. keep the fire going. She was the only one he
Another quality which began to surface could stand to have touch him. She would
was a wisdom unusual in one so young. The bathe his fevered head and body, and keep
whole family, especially his brothers and sis- silent watch over him. She also stayed home
ters would look to young Roland as a peace- from school during the day to help care for
maker. This was a ”fruit of the Spirit” that him. When Margaret had been sick with
remained in evidence throughout his forty- rheumatic fever the previous winter, Roland
one years of ministry. Roland was a peace- had brought her lessons home from school
maker. and helped her with them so she wouldn’t get
Junior high school days rolled around. The behind. Now it was her turn to do something
Buck family was still very poor. Their coats for her beloved brother.
were thin and their shoes, when worn thru, One night Roland was especially ill. Mar-
were lined with cardboard to cover the holes. garet was keeping her faithful watch by his
Sometimes they were lucky in finding an old bed, but she was so sleepy she dozed off. Sud-
tire. That was really living, to have some tire denly she opened her eyes to find Roland was
thread for the bottoms of their shoes. looking at her. Very feebly, he took her hand,
Roland was never warm, and in rainy and in a voice so weak it was barely a whis-
Washington, he was hardly ever dry. They per, he said, ”I love you, Margaret!”
all had to pitch in and work after school to Margaret, who was not pretty, who was
help earn money to keep food on the table. At even kind of bratty, and who got on every-
that time, Roland would work steadily, side one’s nerves, that night felt like she was the
by side with his older brothers and his fa- most beautiful, special little girl in the whole
ther, never complaining, but always depend- wide world. Her big brother loved her.
able, even when he wasn’t feeling well. The Lord brought Roland thru with no ill
When he was fourteen, he developed a se- effects, protecting him once again for the spe-
vere cold. He kept on working because he cial task that lay ahead.
was needed. Roland’s natural stamina finally Later that same year, Roland cut his
gave out, and the cold became double pneu- Achilles’ tendon very badly. The only way
monia, which eventually resulted in inflam- he could walk without pain was to wear one
matory arthritis. of his sister’s high-heeled shoes. So that is
His fever was so high, and this type of dis- just what he did. The other children hooted
ease produced so much pain on the surface of and laughed at him as he walked to class in
his skin, that he could not bear to be touched. his ”high heels, but he was comfortable. His
Night after night, he lay in the living room foot didn’t hurt, he could walk, and in his
near the fire suffering terribly with nothing opinion, that was all that mattered.
to help the pain. Roland went thru the first two years of ju-
His little sister Margaret, who loved him nior high school, and started the ninth grade.
21
Times were so bad and things were so tough hollering for Roland.
for the family, however, that when a job Roland had been in the woods cutting
opened up on the night shift at the lumber- down some small trees. When he saw his
yard, he decided to quit school and go to work little brother coming, he decided to hide be-
to help support the family. This also gave hind a tree and scare him. Roland left his
him the opportunity to send a little money axe sticking in the tree he was chopping. As
now and then to his brother, George, who he watched, he saw Walt frantically looking
was attending Bible college. around. All of a sudden, Walt spotted the axe
Roland’s younger brother, Walt, has mem- sticking in the tree. He knew then that the
ories of a compassionate, loving, big brother. Lord had surely come, taken Roland, and he
When Walt was in grade school, he followed had been left behind. Walt fell to his knees
his big brother everywhere. Roland would and began to cry and sob. Then he began
take Walt with him to the YMCA. Roland to pray at the top of his voice for the Lord
loved boxing, and Walt just loved to be with to please forgive him and come back and get
him. Walt says that Roland was such a nat- him too!
ural athlete, he could probably have turned Suddenly Walt felts a big arm around his
professional in several sports. He was a fine shoulders as Roland gave him a big squeeze.
pitcher in baseball, good in football, and an His terror at being left behind receded in the
excellent boxer. His only problem in the ring shelter of his brother’s bear hug. Walt says
was that he was too poor to afford tennis that this is how he thinks of his brother, even
shoes. When he practiced sparring, he would thru the years after they grew up and were
box in his socks. As he would get going, his both in the ministry. When Walt thinks of
socks would start to slip off and stretch. They Roland, he remembers a strong compassion-
would get longer and longer until soon his op- ate arm around his shoulders, giving him a
ponent would have a real advantage by step- squeeze, that somehow made everything right
ping on his socks, preventing him from mov- with the world.
ing so fast. A terrible forest fire had started in the area.
Walt had not accepted the Lord with the Nobody was sure whether or not the houses
rest of his family. One day he came home were going to burn. Roland and George went
from school and found no one at home. The out to help fight this tremendous fire. It was
whole house was quiet. His mother’s clothes nighttime and, as they were building back-
were folded on the bed. Walt’s first thought fires up a small mountain road, trees were
was, The Lord has come, and I’m left behind! flaming and falling all around them. Sud-
Then he thought to himself, I’ll go out in the denly, they realized they were trapped. The
woods and see if I can find Roland. If he’s fire had completely surrounded them. There
still here, I’ll be sure the Lord hasn’t come was absolutely no way out. Somehow, and
yet, because when the Lord comes, I know neither man knows quite how, they were able
Roland will go! Walt tore into the woods, to fight their way thru and get out. Neither
22 CHAPTER 5. THE FLEAS
one was burned at all. Once again God pro- too much. Let’s do it for five dollars.” The
tected Roland. couple happily took them up on the offer.
Hopping a freight train to get where one
wanted to go was a common practice in those
days. When Roland was sixteen and George
was eighteen, they hopped a freight train to
Idaho, where they heard there was good work
in the potato harvest. It was very cold the
night they started their journey and some-
how they got separated trying to find a place
to keep warm. Throughout the night they
walked back and forth on the tops of those
freight cars shivering in the cold looking for
each other.
The next morning, after traveling several
hundred miles, the train stopped in Pocatello.
Both boys got off the train, trying to figure
out how on earth they were going to find
each other. They started walking in oppo-
site directions down the track and practically
bumped into each other. Talk about a re-
union! This was Roland’s introduction to the
state where he was to spend most of his adult
life.
The two young men were able to earn
enough money in that potato harvest to buy
their first car. It was an old four-cylinder
Dodge. The two brothers really felt as if they
had made it as they drove their very own car
back to Seattle. As they were driving down
the highway, they passed an old couple whose
car had broken down. George stopped the
car and, being an astute young businessman,
said, ”I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll push you
into the next town for ten dollars.”
Roland then exhibited another quality that
was to become a trademark of his ministry - a
generous heart. He said, ”Oh George, that’s
Chapter 6
23
24 CHAPTER 6. THE WOLF TAMER
kept right on talking, getting even more car- going to have to take you over my knee, and
ried away with his remarks. Suddenly, he felt spank you just like a kid!”
a strong arm go around his neck in a hammer- This really set the fellow off. He laughed
lock. Before he knew what had happened, and made scornful remarks. Suddenly the
Roland had half carried, half dragged him room got very quiet, except for the laughter
over to the faucet where the men washed up. of the obnoxious student. His laughter died in
He grabbed the bar of soap and very calmly his throat as he looked up to see Roland tow-
and quietly proceeded to wash the talker’s ering above him. Before he knew what was
mouth out. That day a young high school happening, he was grasped by two muscular
boy walked tall in the eyes of his co-workers, hands, and although he struggled valiantly,
many of them twice his age. He had earned he was forced across Roland’s knee. Roland
their respect. proceeded to give the young man a sound
During his senior year in college, Roland spanking!
was a proctor for one of the men’s dorms. The next day Walt came across a cartoon
This was a thankless no-pay job as general that graphically showed a machine called
representative and disciplinarian for the other ”The Wolf Tamer!” It was a machine invented
students. Roland was as full of fun as the by Brer Rabbit, into which he stuffed his old
next one and thoroughly enjoyed life, but he enemy Brer Wolf. The machine beat, shook,
had been asked to be the proctor because the kicked, and generally clobbered the wolf. The
administration knew they could depend on cartoon showed the wolf exiting in tatters,
him. thoroughly humbled.
One day Roland received word that there Walt cut out the cartoon and hung it in
had been complaints about the high noise the dorm with Roland’s name printed in big
level in the dorm, and also quite a bit of con- letters above it. This became his nickname
cern about the wear and tear on the building for the rest of the school year.
and its contents because of the roughhousing Roland thoroughly enjoyed his college
that went on. days. He was well liked and everyone noted
Roland shared this with the others and his deep love for God. In fact, although
things were a lot better for a short time. sometimes other people talked about God
One day, however, one of the older students in a careless manner, Roland throughout his
started to get noisy and boisterous in the whole life could never speak lightly about the
lounge. Roland went over to him with a big God who meant so much to him. He held God
smile, and reminded him that he needed to in deep reverence.
be quieter. When Roland and Walt graduated from
He subsided for a while but finally his good Northwest, they decided not to break up their
spirits got the better of him. He began carry- partnership. Roland accepted a church in
ing on in earnest. Roland spoke to him again Granger, Washington. Walt Daggett went
in a deceptively quiet voice, ”Be quiet, or I’m home to work for the summer to pay off his
26 CHAPTER 6. THE WOLF TAMER
27
28 CHAPTER 7. GRANGER, HOME OF THE SPLASHING DUST
to build. The two young pastors asked God, and said, ”All right, I’ll bake your pies, but
”What do we do now? There is no money, where are the rest of the things for you spe-
but there is no more room!” cial dinner?” Very earnestly Roland told her,
As they were driving thru town one day, ”We are used to eating only one thing at a
they passed an old apple warehouse that time, and all we want is banana cream pie!”
someone had begun to tear down. Roland The boys firmly believed that they were in
and Walt looked at each other. ”Lumber!” heaven as they settled down to their dinner
They found the man who owned the building, of as much banana cream pie as they could
and offered to help tear it down in exchange eat!
for the lumber. The owner agreed to let the Although Roland was a busy young pas-
men have as much as they needed. tor, he kept in close contact with his younger
The two young pastors spent the summer brother, Walt. Walt was now an extremely
pulling nails, and hauling lumber in an old good-looking teenager. There was a beau-
van. They didn’t have the slightest idea of tiful relationship between the two brothers.
how to build a church or any kind of building, Walt had a charismatic personality and was
but God had even this under control. One well liked. However, during his teen years a
of the best carpenters in town came to their little distance may have come between him
church. Each evening he would come by and and the Lord.
lay out work for the aspiring young carpen- Roland was very happy when Walt told
ters, so that inexperienced though they were, him that he was going to go to Northwest
they were able to get the sprawling frame of College and then into the ministry. One night
that new church up. Not only that, God gives about midnight just after he had gone to bed,
the very best, and the lumber from that ware- there was a knock on the door of Roland’s
house was some of the finest available. little apartment behind the church. He an-
Roland was happy when his young sister, swered the door to find Troy, Margaret’s hus-
Margaret, moved to Yakima. She had grown band, standing there. Troy told him that he
up to be a lovely young woman. She was now and Margaret were very concerned. Walt had
married, and had become an excellent cook. changed his mind about going to Northwest,
She was concerned about the eating habits and was instead planning to seek his fortune
of her brother and his associate, so whenever in California. His bags were all packed, and
she could she would invite them over for a he was planning to get up early and leave.
delicious home-cooked meal. Roland hurriedly dressed, and drove all night
One day she decided she would give the from Granger to Everett. He arrived there
boys a real treat. She told them to buy any- early in the morning and walked into Walt’s
thing they wanted for dinner and she would room. Walt eyed him suspiciously, and said,
prepare it for them. Roland and Walt came ”Rol, what are you doing here?” With a wis-
to her house loaded down with the ingredients dom that was not his own, Roland answered,
for banana cream pies. Margaret laughed ”Since this is your first day at my old school,
30 CHAPTER 7. GRANGER, HOME OF THE SPLASHING DUST
I drove all night so I could go with you and his wedding. They also decided that he badly
help you enroll!” There was a little silence, needed a new pair of shoes. Since Roland
then Walt said, ”Hey Rol, that’s great. My took a size 13D, he had a hard time finding
bags are all packed!” them.
This must have been a special day in Everything was in readiness for the new
heaven, as God looked down and watched this bride. Then word came. She was not coming.
choice young man who, thru love for his older She had changed her mind about marrying
brother, was guided into a ministry that has him! His heart was broken.
affected the lives of many people. There he was, young Pastor Buck, with his
War is Declared! Uncle Sam wants you! new shoes, his new wedding suit, a house full
Walter Daggett and Roland were busy work- of food, and no bride. But God was in this
ing for the Lord, and weren’t too worried also. It wasn’t too much later that a beau-
about the draft. Then one day, Walter got an tiful, spunky redhead with a peaches-and-
unexpected letter from Roland’s mother. She cream complexion and turquoise eyes came
said, ”Dear Walter, I hear you are going to bursting into his life.
be drafted into the army, and as I have been
holding you up before the Lord, He gave me
this special Scripture to give you. ’He shall
give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee
in all they ways’” (Ps. 91:11). Walter had
no idea of going into the army, at least not
yet, but he thought it was nice of Roland’s
mother to care. The next day, a draft notice
came for him. Reluctantly he said goodbye
to Roland, and to the work they had started
together.
Roland was left to carry on. It seemed
lonely as he walked into his tiny apartment.
That loneliness was tempered by the fact that
a young lady he had meet in Bible school was
coming soon to marry him. He was about to
start a new era in his life.
The people in his church were so excited
about their pastor’s new bride. They all got
together, and filled up the larder in the little
kitchen.
Then they decided that it was a disgrace
that their pastor didn’t have a new suit for
Chapter 8
Charm
31
32 CHAPTER 8. CHARM
ization that I cannot mourn, but I must thank letters flew back and forth between us.
the Lord for allowing me to share thirty-seven ”I’ll never forget the day at convention
good years with a very special man. in Walla Walla, Washington, when Roland
”Looking back thru those years of mar- took me to a beautiful park shaded with low-
riage, they have telescoped into a moment of hanging weeping willows. On the stream go-
time, too short at the very best. ing thru the park swans were gracefully swim-
”My girl friend Doris Johnson and I were ming. What a romantic setting! He picked
pastoring a church in the Fairmont commu- out a secluded bench and there in the still-
nity, five miles south of Everett, Washington. ness of a warm spring afternoon he told me
”One lady evangelist was very concerned he loved me and asked me to be his wife. My
about us being tucked away in a small com- heart overflowed with love for him and to God
munity and encouraged us to make ’contacts.’ for allowing me to link my life with one so pre-
Surely no young men would find us in this cious. Our hearts beat as one as we shared
obscure area of ministry! How beautiful it is our dreams and desires for the future.
when we give our lives to the Lord. He takes ”The wedding date was set for June 13
care of us in every way without manipulation which was also Roland’s birthday. We were
on our part! united in marriage in Seattle, Washington, at
”My sister-in-law, Margaret Ward, saw Fremont Tabernacle which is now Westmin-
a potential of mutual friendship with her ister Assembly of God.
brother and I, so she invited Doris and ”Everything happened so quickly that
me and her brother to dinner. I was Roland had not given any thought to where
very impressed with this handsome, broad- we were going to stay on our wedding night
shouldered, muscular young man named so after the wedding festivities were over we
Roland Buck. went from motel to motel trying to find a
”Because he was ’baching it,’ he didn’t eat place to stay. Finally we decided to start out
very much at home so when he was invited to in the direction of our honeymoon trip along
dinner, he made up for lost time! I mentioned the Oregon coast. We drove until four o’clock
to Doris, ”I pity the woman who has to cook in the morning and had to stay in a rickety
for him!” motel with creaky floors and leaky faucets.
”The next day he called and asked me to It was so old it almost swayed in the breeze.
go to some special meetings in Marysville, But we didn’t care. We were so much in love.
Washington. It was difficult to get dressed Our trip along the winding roads of the Ore-
for that date with such a special young man. gon coast was wonderful as we continued to
”Our courtship was very limited because make exciting new discoveries about one an-
we had a whole mountain range between other.
us. We were both busy pastoring our own ”Our first pastorate together was Union
churches and to top it off, this was the time Gap, Washington. We arrived there with our
when gasoline was rationed. However, the Model A and Rol’s brother Walt’s Model A
33
Ministry Unfolding
35
36 CHAPTER 9. MINISTRY UNFOLDING
ray of sunshine, and now the Buck family had my mother, ”It wasn’t your fault, Mrs. Buck.
been blessed with a boy! There is absolutely nothing you could have
Six months passed. It was a sunny spring done”.
day in Gooding. In the parsonage, mother It was a very hard time for the Buck family.
had her day planned. She was going to whisk Mother’s nerves could not stand the strain.
thru the house and get it all shiny clean for My father took her home to be with her
daddy. She got all of us ready for the day, mother for a short time. We two girls were
and then about mid-morning, put Terry down sent to stay with friends. Mother says now
for his nap. He was a little fussy, but was that it was daddy’s gentleness, love and un-
probably teething. Mother decided to just derstanding that brought her thru this hard
let him fuss until he went to sleep. Lunchtime time.
came and she fixed lunch for us girls. Terry Daddy was only twenty-nine years old, I
was surely taking a long nap. That was good; was in bed flat on my back, his only son
he’d be really happy when daddy came home. had died, mother was ill, when tragedy struck
Daddy arrived and Terry was still sleep- again. His father, Hoyt, died of cancer, and
ing. Finally, mother decided that he had just a short time later, his mother passed
slept long enough. She went into the bed- away.
room to wake up her precious little boy. She What a training time for a young pastor.
picked him up. One day I came to him and climbed up into
Suddenly, I heard mother cry out, his lap.
”Roland!” She came running into the liv- ”Daddy”, I said, ”I’m going to make
ing room holding their little son out to him. mommy smile again! I’ve got a wonderful
”Roland, he’s dead, he’s dead!” she sobbed. surprise coming tomorrow morning.”
Daddy took his little boy in his arms, put ”What is it, honey?” he asked.
him over is shoulder and began to walk with ”I just asked God to give Terry back to
him, patting him gently on the back. He no- us. I told Him to put him in my bed, and
ticed that I was sitting up in bed staring out tomorrow morning, I’m going to carry him in
of my door! He gave me a big smile and qui- to mommy!”
etly shut the door of my bedroom. Not really Daddy just hugged me close. Then he told
understanding what was happening, I contin- me something I never forgot, a truth that was
ued to watch thru the keyhole. I had never the foundation stone of his own personal min-
seen my daddy look so sad. istry.
Carefully, he laid Terry on the couch and ”Honey, God can see ahead to what we
called the doctor. The doctor examined the can’t see. He probably looked ahead in
little body, then said gently, ”It looks like Terry’s life, and saw some hurt, or maybe He
crib death. We don’t know why or how it saw that when Terry got older, he might not
happens, but there is nothing you can do to serve Him. Anyway, God decided that He
prevent it!” Very compassionately he said to would take Terry home to heaven with Him
39
right now, and spare him those things that Pastor Slagel shared the same beautiful
may be in the future. And, honey, I want knowledge of the nature of God that his
to tell you something. God always does the teacher had, and pioneered at least four dif-
right thing. You can trust Him!” ferent churches around the country before his
Instead of feeling any bitterness toward death.
God, daddy squared his shoulders and de- Bob Slagel, Boom Slagel’s son, was about
clared that he was serving God because of fifteen. He was the ring leader of the street
who He was, not because of what He did. gang in Gooding. Bob would bring his gang
This hard time in his life mellowed him and to church, and if he didn’t like what was hap-
gave him a depth of compassion for people pening, he would get up and walk out, fol-
who were hurting that was very unusual for lowed by the others.
one so young. One Sunday night after the service, the
Bible school at midnight? My father was people had gathered in the front of the sanc-
not adverse to trying something new to get tuary and were having a wonderful time of
out the message of God’s love. Mr. Wilbur prayer. Bob was in the back of the church
”Boom” Slagel had just found the Lord thru with his friends causing a ruckus. Daddy
my parent’s ministry in Gooding. He imme- came quietly up behind Bob, scooped him up
diately felt the call of God on his life, but around the middle, and literally carried him
he didn’t have any formal training. He knew up to the front and placed him right in the
that with his large family it would be impos- center of that prayer circle. He looked at dad,
sible for him to go to Bible school to prepare his eyes flashing with hate, but his hate was
himself for full-time service. totally melted by the great big warm smile
He shared this with daddy, and he could that shone back at him.
hardly believe his ears when my father said, Several weeks later on a sunny afternoon,
”That’s no problem at all. I’ll train you.” as daddy was out driving, he saw Bob with
Brother Slagel said, ”But Pastor Buck, I work three of his buddies. He stopped and asked,
nights and, as a result, I sleep during the ”How about going for a ride with me in my
day.” Daddy told him, ”You come to my V-12 Zephyr?” This car was a Lincoln and
house every night at midnight during your very special. Most cars only had eight cylin-
lunch break, and I’ll teach you from the Bible ders, this car had twelve. Everyone was really
everything I have learned. This will be your impressed with it, especially the boys.
Bible school.” They all hopped in and took off for a drive
So, for the next few months, six nights a in the country. They were having a great
week, a young pastor would roll out of his time when suddenly daddy turned into the
bed at twelve o’clock each night and give the cemetery. They all wondered what on earth
older man a Bible study. This went on until Pastor Buck was doing there!
Brother Slagel was ready to go out and pastor Daddy turned to them and said, ”Would
on his own. you mind stopping by Terry’s grave with me
40 CHAPTER 9. MINISTRY UNFOLDING
Boise
The congregation in Gooding was thriving. oneer another work, and the people wanted
The church building had been completed, and daddy to come and speak to them with the
the entire community was aware that some- possibility of his taking the pastorate. As he
thing was happening there. hung up, he felt a quickening in his heart in
The Buck family had survived the storms response to the invitation. Mother shared his
of adversity and my parents had come feeling.
through stronger than ever. The Lord had Just a few weeks later, my father tearfully
healed my heart and I was able to start first preached his farewell sermon in Gooding. He
grade right on time. My little sister, Charm, felt strongly that God was moving him to
at two was a happy little girl who had de- Boise, and that He must obey.
veloped an amazing aptitude for putting to- The little church in Boise was called Bethel
gether any kind of puzzle. Daddy had a won- Assembly of God. They didn’t have a par-
derful time showing of any kind of her ability sonage, so daddy purchased a big, sprawling,
to his friends. He was firmly convinced that old house for an unbelievably low price. The
both of his daughters were exceptional. people in the congregation banded together
”Roland! Telephone! It’s long distance and scrubbed and painted to help make this
from Boise!” Mother handed the phone to house presentable.
him, wondering who on earth would be call- As Mother went through the house, she
ing. immediately began thinking, ”If Roland will
It was a representative from a little pio- tear out this wall and move the stairway...
neer church in Boise. Reverend Boutwell had Oh, and the living room is so big that adding
gathered together a group of people; God had a wall could make another bedroom!” Daddy
blessed; and the congregation had built a very just smiled as mother enthusiastically told
small sanctuary in one of the older residential him all her ideas. He knew that she had
sections of the town. The congregation was a special gift of transforming any place, no
much smaller than the one in Gooding. matter how drab it might look in the begin-
Reverend Boutwell was moving on to pi- ning, into a comfortable, attractive home. He
41
42 CHAPTER 10. BOISE
was proud of this talent in her and was willing a friend. I was very young then, and could
to work with her to accomplish their ideas. not fully appreciate the depth of caring that
One of the first things he did was put him- motivated a man like him. He gave Robert
self on a very small salary. Up to that time, a ride home. I wonder now what he thought
the pastor received the entire Sunday offer- as he entered and surveyed that hovel that
ings. Daddy felt there must be some money we called home. What I do know is that
from the offerings to put back into the op- from that Sunday morning on, he picked our
eration and growth of the church. When he family up for church and brought us back
went on a salary, the offerings immediately home. It wasn’t just Sunday mornings that
increased, as people realized that much of he took on the responsibility for us, but Sun-
what they gave would go right back into the day evenings, Wednesday evenings, and any
church. The second thing he did was buy an time there was a special service in town or
old school bus and he began going door to out of town.
door inviting boys and girls, moms and dads, ”At the Christmas program there was al-
to fill it up. ways a bag of oranges, nuts, and candy for
The following was excerpted from a letter the kids at the church. I wonder how many
from one of those Sunday school kids. of those people ever realized that this was just
”I first met Roland Buck when I was nine about all some of those children ever got?
years old. My mother, my two older brothers, ”Life separated us, and I went to live with
my younger sister and I lived in one of the my father. The years passed. I thank Pastor
two major ghetto areas in Boise. We were Buck for many things. I thank God that be-
one of the poorest families. The house we fore he was taken home, Roland Buck knew
lived in was truly a ”tarpaper” shack. There how very, very much I appreciated his ef-
were curtains rather than doors between the forts above and beyond what many ministers
rooms, no screens on the windows, and in the would have construed as their duty. I thank
winter we pushed a rug against the outside God that Pastor Buck was a man who was
door in an effort to keep out the cold. The willing to go that extra mile. Also that he was
oil stove that stood in the front room was not a man who went out eagerly into the high-
adequate for heating a house even this small. ways and byways to bring people in. In short,
”It didn’t seem as if many people cared Pastor Buck lived the message he preached!”
about the poor people in those days of 1951. Another charter member, Grace Schofield,
I don’t remember many people coming to our writes, ”Pastor Buck was more than a pastor.
door. Pastor Buck was the exception coming He was our friend and brother. In the twenty-
to our door. five years we had the privilege of sitting under
”My oldest brother Robert had met Roland his ministry, we found him to be consistent in
somewhere in the streets. I sometimes think his trust and faith in the Lord. He never went
that Pastor Buck drove through the poor from right to left on anything but stayed in
parts of town, looking for people who needed the middle of the road. You knew you could
43
trust him.
”He was a pastor who cared about people.
When we first came to Boise, the church was
on 21st and Alturas. He would go from door
to door inviting people to church. Sunday
mornings he went picking up children and
even washing faces.
”Pastor took our boys out into the coun-
try and taught them about cars and driv-
ing them. He also helped with school work.
When the boys were older and doing their
own thing, he held them up in prayer. One
Figure 10.1: First Church at Boise.
Sunday night they both came to church. Pas-
tor told us later that he could see no one but
our two boys no matter where he looked. With this kind of caring, it wasn’t long un-
”When someone came with a need, he til the little church on 21st and Alturas was
didn’t just pray, but reached into his pocket filled to capacity. The congregation pitched
and handed them a five-dollar bill or more. in and expanded it as much as possible, but
”Pastor was human, he made his mistakes, finally it was time to build.
but was always quick to say he was sorry. Daddy and some of his board members flew
There were times through the years that I in a small plane over the city and, from high
did not totally agree with him, but I always over the town, they found a spot that looked
respected him. We could always go to him as if it must be right in the middle of Boise.
and talk things out. After they landed, they found to their excite-
”It was beautiful to see the gifts of the ment that the spot they had seen was indeed
Spirit in evidence in his life. It was no available.
surprise to us that the angels were sent to The project for the new church on Latah
him. The Lord had trusted him with informa- Street was huge financially in the eyes of the
tion throughout the years and knew He could little congregation but, led by their pastor,
trust him to tell only what He wanted told. they plunged ahead. This new church was
He never got puffed up over these things. He truly a step of faith, because their building
was in awe at seeing and talking to angels, payment per month was as much as the entire
but he never felt that it was because he was monthly budget of the Alturas church.
special. He always included the whole con- Because of the more central location, the
gregation as a family in the visitations. We name of the church was changed from Bethel
all felt involved. Assembly to Central Assembly. A lot of peo-
”Most of all, he taught us to trust the Lord ple got a real chuckle out of a picture that
completely in all things.” was run in the local newspaper. A reporter
44 CHAPTER 10. BOISE
47
48 CHAPTER 11. STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT REMAIN
kept on going. Central Assembly did not even him of that time in the hospital when God
miss a step. In fact, during the time daddy spoke to him about the importance of the
was absent from the church, it continued to family. Gabriel told my father that he was
grow. there as God continued to unfold His great
He had never in his life experienced any plan in his life.
kind of nervous problem. He was the kind of The keynote of all the messages brought
person who, when he wanted to go to sleep, by the angel from God was God’s care and
simply closed his eyes, and was asleep. But love for people, as evidence by the sacrifice
now, even the very gentle closing of a door of Jesus. Over and over again, this message
would seem to go right through him. This was given to daddy through divine messenger
strong giant of a man experienced such weak- from many different portions of the bible. He
ness that the day he could finally pick up his was reminded of how God portrayed His plan
watch again was a real thrill. Once again, for the family in the Old Testament in Exo-
God was teaching him a lesson through trial. dus 30:12-16, and Exodus 38:25-28. At that
His capacity to understand people with ner- time, God wanted the name of every head
vous problem and people who were weak in of the house and his family included in the
body expanded. He was learning compassion gate of the tabernacle. So, now, through the
for problems which before he might not have sacrifice of Jesus, He reserves a place for the
understood. whole family but each member must individ-
During the many weeks or recuperation, ually be born again. The angel shared with
the Lord brought this phrase to his mind over daddy that if one person in the family was
and over again, ”Strengthen the things that saved, the entire family was highly favored
remain. Strengthen the things that remain!” because of the prayers of this one individual.
As daddy meditated on the meaning of the The angel said that he was now leading a host
phrase the Lord had so burned on his heart, of angels to clear the way, to scatter the en-
he began to search the scriptures and he dis- emies, to move away the roadblocks, and to
covered the Lord was talking about the things let people know that the heart of the Father
that would last for eternity. The Lord illumi- is warm toward them!
nated to his heart that those things which After recovering from this heart attack,
would remain were his relationship to God daddy returned to his pulpit, and was soon
and family ties. He became even more aware vigorously back to work for the kingdom. As
of his own family, although he had always a result of the way the Lord dealt with him
cherished every one of us. He had a new during the time he was recuperating, his fam-
awareness of the things that really are im- ily counseling ministry began to expand. In
portant to God. his messages to his people, he began to stress
Years later, daddy shared with me that as the things that were really important to God,
the angel Gabriel, was giving him these beau- the things that would last for eternity.
tiful truths from God’s Word, he reminded When the church moved to its new loca-
49
The years passed and there continued to lot of hurt and division.
be constant steady growth in Central Assem- Not everyone understood the message that
bly. The message that daddy shared from his my father had to share. Some people thought
pulpit were messages of God’s love and for- he was preaching too much love, and not
giveness. enough of God’s judgment.
People began to stream into his office for Finally the men on the church board were
counseling. From the alcoholic to the person approached about having to vote of confi-
with nervous problems, God endued my fa- dence taken at the next business meeting.
ther with divine wisdom in sharing the help One of the men on the board took daddy
that was available to them in Jesus Christ. out to lunch. Then, out by the river in one
Couples with marital problems began to find of Boise’s parks, he shared with him what
new hope for their marriages. The message the comments were. My father’s heart was
concerning the things that are important to broken. All he had been sharing was the
God that he had received during his illness God that he knew. A God of love. A God
was so burned into his heart that it was re- who gave heaven’s best, Jesus, so that a lost
flected in every part of his ministry. world could be reconciled to the Father. As
Men and women from all walks of life be- the two men sat together in the quietness of
gan to worship regularly at Central Assembly. Julia Davis Park on the bank of the Boise
People dressed in expensive fur coats sat next River, the sunlight glistened on the tears that
to people from the wrong side of town, loving streamed down my father’s face. Those tears
each other and the Lord. Visitors would walk came from the depths of a loving heart.
into the church and exclaim at the presence The sweetness of Jesus radiated from dad
of the Lord they could feel in that place and as he called that crucial business meeting to
the essence of love filling the entire building. order. He quietly led in prayer before the
Because of daddy’s sensitivity to people, vote was to be taken. Suddenly the power
and God’s touch on his life, he was able to of God flooded that business meeting. The
ride out problems that could have caused a board members had heard that there was go-
51
52 CHAPTER 12. THE ORB OF TRUTH
ing to be a landslide vote of ”No Confidence,” a large extent, is that we must see Him first of
but to their amazement, when the votes were all as a God of wrath who must be appeased
counted, the votes of confidence in daddy’s through various ways and efforts. If somehow
ministry were overwhelming, with only three you can appease the wrath of God by what
or four out of the whole membership against! you do, by what you’re able to achieve or how
Before the foundation of the world, God had you perform, you may drop through this area
a plan for my father’s life, and nothing and of His wrath, and enter into His love. There-
no one could stop the unfolding of His divine fore, the message of His love has always been
purposes. one that was bound and wrapped in a pack-
God confirmed daddy’s ministry then, and age of conditions. If we do, He will do. But
again years later when God sent the fol- the truth is, God’s love is unconditional!
lowing message to him through the angel, ”When He spoke to Moses, you remember
Gabriel. Gabriel gave Dad a reference from how Moses cried out, ’God let me see you, I
God’s Word to confirm the truths he taught want to see you as you really are.’ God said,
(Jer. 9:23, 24). Here, in dad’s own words is ’You can’t see me.’ But Moses said, ’I want
the message preached to the congregation on, to see you face to face, I want to talk with
The Orb of Truth.” you.’
”God is stating that He wants the world to God said, ’I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll
know Him as He is! He said, ”Let not the put you in this little cleft of the rock, and
wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the I’m going to put my big hand over the top,
mighty man glory in his might, let not the and then I’m going to pass by, and let you
rich man glory in his riches: But let him that get a little feel of the glory, and then I’m go-
glorieth glory in this, that he understand and ing to give you a personal picture of how I
knoweth me, as a God full of loving kindness, want to be seen, what I’m really like.’ So
a God of mercy, a God of righteousness, a you read it in Exodus 34:6 and 7 where the
God of Justice, in these things I delight saith Lord passed by, and He spoke to Moses out of
the Lord.” the glory cloud, and He said, ’The Lord God,
”One thing that God spoke to my heart in full of loving kindness, graciousness, full of
this connection is that the world as a whole compassion and mercy.’ Then He went on so
has the truth about what God is like, but Moses would have the full picture, and He
they have the truth upside down. God wants said, ’To those who refuse and reject, they’ll
the world to know that He cares for them. know the wrath of God.’ So this message
The world of theology has had a picture of today has turned the orb of truth over, and
God. They’ve had the orb of truth that God God is saying, ’Let men and women know
is a God of compassion and He’s a God of that if they’ll plunge into my love, and
wrath, both sides, but God through an angel accept it, they need never experience
said, ’They have the order reversed. They my wrath!’
have the gospel inverted.’ Their message, to ”But if they only know about wrath first,
53
It was early the Saturday morning before to find that his beloved father was very ill.
Easter, 1966, when daddy woke up to unbe- Mother had come back from the hospital to
lievable pain in his chest. He got up, thinking care for the children. She and Ted went into
it would help him feel better, and collapsed the bedroom, and together, they knelt by the
to the floor. Mother called the ambulance. bed, praying for husband and father.
My sister, Charm, was awakened by the In Intensive Care, daddy suddenly felt
dog barking in the garage. She got up to find something begin to go through his body. It
daddy lying in the hall on a stretcher. She started at the top of his head and progressed
leaned over to kiss him, and he said weakly, slowly down to his toes. This sensation lasted
”I don’t feel very good.” He was almost gone. about thirty minutes.
The ambulance attendants shook their heads.
They were sure he would not make it to the He said later that it was like walking from a
hospital. room filled with pain through a doorway into
another room totally free from pain. When
My husband Alan and I received a call at he opened his eyes, he felt completely well.
home and our trip to the hospital is just a He took off the oxygen tubes and sat up. The
blur in my mind. I loved dad so much that nurse came running in. He told her, ”I want
I couldn’t bear to think that anything could to go home! I’m well!” He got out of bed and
happen to him. said, ”Where are my clothes?” More nurses
He was still alive although just barely, came running. They thought he was going to
when he arrived at emergency where he was die and had just one last surge of strength.
immediately put into Intensive Care. He told They tried to get him back into bed. But he
me later that the pain was so intense, and the told them, ”I have to go, I have to preach
pressure on his chest so great, he almost could at my Easter services tomorrow!” they fran-
not bear it. He experienced this pressure and tically called the doctor and he told daddy
agonizing pain for six or seven hours. that he absolutely could not be released until
At the parsonage, my brother Ted woke up they had tested him thoroughly!
55
56 CHAPTER 13. PLUGGED INTO GOD’S HEART
57
58 CHAPTER 14. FOUR LITTLE BUCKS AND HOW THEY GREW
ing, (we usually got one together), crying a ally liked was moving away. I would never
few tears, and then with her eyes as big as see him again! I cried and cried. My daddy
saucers. Watching her poor big sister. comforted me the best way he could. Then
”Whenever daddy punished us, it was I got an idea. ’Daddy, would you take me in
never in anger. After the spanking was over, the car, by his house, for just one last look
or in later life whatever punishment had been at him?’ Daddy didn’t laugh, he just said,
meted out, he would come to us and say, ’Sure, honey.’ So off we went for one last
’Honey, I just hate punishing, you, but I’m glimpse of that boy and his house. Daddy did
responsible to God for you life. You still love get in one of his famous stories, however! He
your old dad though, don’t you?’ What do told me that he had a friend who had fallen in
you do with a dad like that? I would always love, and the girl decided to marry someone
have to say, ’Sure I do, daddy!’ Later on, else. He told me very dramatically how that
when he would have to deny us something, friend just sat by the window and pined away,
or an activity, for our own good, and I would getting skinnier and skinnier, and weaker and
be pouting, he just couldn’t stand it! I al- weaker, because he couldn’t get over his lost
ways knew it wouldn’t be long before I would love! The story was so dramatic he finally
hear his footsteps outside my door, and then made me giggle, and I told him, ’Oh, daddy,
he would come in. He never would change I would never do that!’
his mind, but he’d say, ’You forgive your old ”A beautiful memory of my daddy’s care
dad for being such an old meanie, don’t you?’ and generosity occurred when I was fourteen.
I would always have to say yes, and most of I was going to have my very first date to a
the time I would have to tell him he was right special banquet. We didn’t have any money,
about whatever it was he wouldn’t let do. A and although I really would have liked a new
lot of times I would go to him even before he dress, I realized it was impossible. My best
would come to me and tell him, ’You were dress was a hand-me-down from a wealthy
right, daddy’ because I never could stand to friend. I had worn it many times, but it was
think that he felt badly. What a dad! It re- still nice. I felt badly about not having a
ally makes me lonesome thinking about what new dress for such a special occasion but tried
a lucky girl I was to have a dad like that. very hard to hide my feelings because I knew
With my inborn nature, I could have been so there was no money for any extras at that
different. time. I told my daddy that it was all right
”His patience with all of us was also a beau- for me to wear the dress I already had, and
tiful trait. Now that I have children, I try to gave him a big hug.
be very careful not to laugh at some of the ”The big day finally came. I came home
things that matter to them. His patience and from school all excited about my first date.
care were very vividly illustrated when I was When I walked in the door, my mother gave
about eleven. I came home in heart-rending me a cute little smile and said, ’Run upstairs,
tears. A little boy in the sixth grade I re- honey. There’s something on your bed!’ I
61
tore up to my bedroom, and there lying on a big kick out of the harmless pranks we did.
my bed was the most beautiful dress I had This night, however, he told me that he had
ever seen. It was navy blue with white stripes heard some of the kids, were planning to get
and very full and swirly. It had a navy blue in real trouble by sneaking out of camp and
cummerbund to emphasize my waist. It was going to town for the whole night. He asked
the latest style. It was gorgeous! me if I would give up my plans and stay in
Mother told me later that Daddy somehow my tent that night after curfew, so nobody
got the extra money, probably by going with- could point any fingers at me. I reluctantly
out something himself, and had gone down- promised him I would, and he said, ’Okay,
town, to pick out that beautiful dress. He honey, I know you’ve promised me, so I can
had gone out of his way to make my first date count on you!’ I couldn’t break a promise to
very special. my dad, so after the exciting banquet, and
”My dad always went with me to youth having a wonderful time as queen, I went to
camp, because he was in great demand as my cabin with my friends and my counselor
a teacher for young people. I didn’t really and went to sleep.
mind, although he did keep an eye on me as ”The next morning, everybody was
far as the fellows were concerned. I was proud buzzing about the kids who had stayed out
of him, because he was always the pitcher all night, and for some reason, the counselors
for the softball team when the kids played thought I was one of them. My counselor
against the preachers, and I felt that because told them that I had stayed in all night, and
of his pitching, the preachers always won! they told her she was lying for me! They
”I remember one year my dad called me went to my dad, and told him he would
aside the last night of camp. He was very ex- have to talk to his daughter for going out
cited. The kids had voted on camp king and all night, ’and her, queen of camp, just the
queen and I had been voted the youth camp night before!’
queen! It was supposed to be a surprise, and ”My dad just looked them right in the eye,
the winners were to be announced at the ban- and said, ’I don’t have to talk to her. She
quet that night, but dad just couldn’t wait promised me she wouldn’t leave her cabin,
to see my face as he told me himself. He was and I believe she kept her promise! If she
tickled, just as much as I was. said she stayed in, she did!’
”On the last night, after the banquet, ev- ”When I heard my dad say that, my heart
eryone wanted to do something memorable, stirred with a strong determination to always
and my friends and I were no exception. We be worthy of the trust that he placed in me.
had been gathering clothes from the coun- He never did even ask me privately, ’Did you,
selor’s wash all week, with plans to build a or did you not stay in? As far as he was con-
funny dummy counselor the last night, and cerned, the issue was closed. I didn’t really
put it in the main recreation area. I shared care then what the other people thought, be-
this with my dad, because he always got such cause my dad believed me!
62 CHAPTER 14. FOUR LITTLE BUCKS AND HOW THEY GREW
”Daddy really used his diplomatic ability ple in their church. As a result, they didn’t
in one incident when I was in high school. feel like they could ever be themselves. I
He had an ironclad rule that I could not go always felt my dad was special because he
steady. During the late fifties and early six- encouraged us to be ourselves, and develop
ties it was popular to wear a big glass ring in our own way. He didn’t even punish us
from your boyfriend, wrapped up in string all the same way or have all our rules alike.
covered with fingernail polish. My friends He treated each one of us individually, and
were all going steady, and I wanted to also. made decisions about our actions based on
”One night, I accepted a class ring from the merit of each case that came up. Be-
one of my boyfriends. I had it all figured out cause of this, each of us felt that we held our
how I was going to change my dad’s mind own very special place in his attention. He
about going steady. I would go to all the felt that each one of his children could do
work of wrapping yards of string around this anything they tried, and was a great encour-
ring, polish it with nail polish, then tell my ager, never once tearing us down but always
dad that I didn’t care about going steady, building up our self-esteem. He asked us to
but that I had gone to all that work, and share with him in his ministry, saying that
what I really wanted was a big ring like all we could help him by developing the trust of
my friends. He didn’t need to worry about his congregation in his ministry by the way
me liking the boy too much. we responded. We all took this very seriously,
Daddy listened with great interest as I feeling as if we were working arm-in-arm with
showed him my handiwork, and told him how him on almost the same level of responsibil-
very long it had taken me to get the ring fixed ity.
up. He smiled when I continued my little ”When I met my husband-to-be under very
spiel about how I actually didn’t care at all unusual circumstances, my dad was very
about going steady, but that all I wanted was concerned because he didn’t know anything
a big ring like all my friends. He gave me a about Alan or his background. He called
bear hug and said, ’Why, honey, is that all Alan’s pastor and also his parents to find out
you wanted?” I nodded, crossing my fingers. what kind of person he was. I remember sit-
Maybe he was going to let me keep my ring! ting in the front yard with dad, feeling a little
He continued, ’If I had known that’s all you resentful. I was twenty years old and I felt I
wanted, we could have taken care of it a long knew what I was doing. Instead of respond-
time ago. Tell you what, you give that ring ing to my resentment with anger, he said,
back, and I’ll buy you the biggest ring you ’Honey, when God gave you to me, it was as
have ever seen, bigger than that one, and you if He entrusted me with a precious treasure.
can wrap it to your heart’s content!’ To me you are like a beautiful, priceless pearl
”I know a lot of preachers’ kids who hated necklace. I just can’t leave my beautiful trea-
it because the fathers were always telling sure lying around carelessly for anyone to pick
them they had to be an example for the peo- up!’ His voice broke and as I looked at him,
63
it was a real point of pride. As I see my kids we drove over it, there was a crunching sound.
growing up, I can understand why he felt the It sounded horrible. I thought for sure we
way he did, because any accomplishment of had ruined the whole car. I pulled over, and
theirs is a big highlight in my life. the car door wouldn’t open. I was absolutely
”I really appreciated him making a big shattered. Going home, of course I was wor-
thing out of the good little things. Never ried about what dad’s response would be. I
making a big thing out of the bad, and giv- went in and told him what had happened.
ing us real self-esteem. We never had any He got up very calmly and said, ’Let’s go
questions to how big we were in the eyes of take a look at it!’ He looked and felt un-
our mom and dad. They always went as far derneath the car. The door was jammed and
as they could in trusting us and lifting and wouldn’t open. Then he said, ’Well, I guess
building us up. we’re going to have to get it fixed!’ I was
”I remember dad taking all of us out on the ready to lay my life on the line, and to have
back roads of Boise and teaching us how to him attach my salary from the drive-in where
drive long before we were old enough, and his I worked to pay for it. His response has been
tremendous patience. He used to take Sharon a help to me through the early years of my
out. And I would always tag along. I would children’s lives, because when I overreact to
listen very carefully, then when we would get a situation, I think of dad and his response
back and Sharon and dad would go in the to something that many fathers would have
house, I would stay in the car and practice reacted so differently. Dad knew that I had
shifting. When it was my turn to learn, dad already punished myself so completely that
was surprised at how much I already knew. he wasn’t going to add to it.
Because I had been practicing on the side. ”One thing he’s told us as parents, and I
”I remember so well when I was fourteen. think of it so often, is to never make the pun-
I had just received my license and dad had ishment greater than the crime. He had a
bought one of the first new cars we had ever basic, solid, consistent approach to us as chil-
had. It was a 1960 Ford, considered a real dren, we always knew where he stood.
dog today, but it was exciting then because ”I remember him as being a very strong
it was brand new off the lot. disciplinarian. In early years, dad’s word was
”On a Sunday afternoon, I asked dad if I final. When his voice got a certain tone in it,
could take a bunch of girls and go out to din- then we didn’t ask any more questions. We
ner. His response, was, ’Sure, honey, no prob- were all familiar with the trips to the base-
lem.’ So I took our brand new car and away ment and dad’s big belt. But spankings were
we went with a carload of fourteen-year-old always given with kindness and love, and we
girls, none of whom had their licenses. Nat- never questioned how he felt about us.
urally. I was a big celebrity. ”When we got older, the discipline changed
”I turned a corner too sharply where there to giving us as much rope as we could han-
was a curb that stuck up about two feet. As dle. With each individual it was different,
65
because we were all put together differently. looking back I realize he loved me enough to
If he saw, however, that we were making a jeopardize his popularity in a sense, and make
wrong decision, he always kept the last word a decision that he knew was for my good. I
in his hip pocket. He loved us enough. When hope that as my kids grow older, I’ll have the
this happened, to put his reputation and his strength to do that with them.
relationship with us on the line, and take a ’Dad had a pet name for me. He called me
stand that many times was hard, but with his ’Chump’ or affectionately, ’Charmi’. Being
guidance turn us back in the right direction. dad’s boy, he used to take his Chump with
I feel this is the reason why we are all serving him to minor league baseball games. I would
the Lord today; because he had the strength hang on every word as he told me about the
of character to risk being unpopular with his different players on the Boise Braces club. I
children, and take a stand that would assure wanted to make dad feel good about being
us our future happiness. He did this with all there with me. I was interested, but probably
of us, giving us leeway, and teaching us how not as interested as I acted. I loved the priv-
to make our own decisions, but keeping us ilege of going some place with dad by myself.
pointed in the right direction. Ted and Marilyn were too young, Sharon was
”Speaking of this, I was twenty years old probably on a date, and mom thought it was
and had been a bridesmaid for a friend. I had nice that we could go together. So we would
entertained one of her grooms-men, who had go and have a hot dog, and watch the game.
come from out of town and wasn’t a Chris- Something else I really enjoyed as dad’s
tian. Dad had not felt good about him at the ’boy’ was going fishing with him. Neither
time, and then I had stayed out later than one of us was much of a fisherman and we
I should have. Dad was rather disappointed would usually end up where all the flies were.
in me. The next time the young man came Some of the times I have mentioned did not
to town, he called and wanted to go out with happen too often but they were very special
me. Being a tenderhearted person and not times and quality times that make for good
wanting to hurt his feelings, even though I memories.
wasn’t particularly interested, I left him on ”Something else that dad used to do for
the phone and asked dad what he thought, me was make up all kinds of mathematical
’No! I don’t want you to go out with him. I story problems for me to figure out. That’s
didn’t get good vibrations from him!’ I said, how we made the time pass when we were
’But dad, he’s on the telephone, and I don’t on vacations and had to spend a lot of time
know what to tell him.’ Dad said, ’If you driving.
can’t tell him not, then I will.’ So dad picked ”Spiritually, dad gave us a legacy for which
up the phone and said, ’I’m sorry, but my there is no substitute. It has made our lives
daughter can’t go out with you!’ richer than any kind of inheritance. We saw
’I could have felt a little rebellious thinking in his life a stability, a steadfastness, a solid
that dad had overstepped his bounds. But interpretation of the Scripture, and a real un-
66 CHAPTER 14. FOUR LITTLE BUCKS AND HOW THEY GREW
”A special memory to me, especially now body know. He didn’t like being on the fir-
that dad is gone, is something that dad gave ing line, but because of his strong character,
me. Mom and I went shopping in early fall for he would prefer to turn the other cheek and
a new winter coat which I needed very badly. express only love and concern for those who
I had been married for several years, and my maligned him. He always maintained his pos-
husband was also in the ministry. I picked itive ministry of how God loved us and how
one out and put it on layaway, thinking that many miles God was willing to go with us.
it would probably take me to the end of the And how very much God was willing to for-
next year to pay for it. Just a few days before give people.”
Christmas, mom and dad came knocking at TED: ”Dad was always my very best
my door. Dad was hiding something behind friend. At the age of two, he was my best
his back. With a ”Merry Christmas” and a friend, at the age of ten, twelve, and all
big hug, they presented me with my coat. I through the adolescent years, which would
don’t think I’ll ever let that coat wear out! normally be a time of rebellion, dad was my
”When dad laughed, he would throw his best friend. I could bring anything to him.
head back and his whole body would laugh. He would never put me down, and always
One such time was when a lady had come up made me feel special. Had it not been for the
to the front of the church to give her testi- fact that he performed many marriage cere-
mony. She began to get really inspired and mony, he would have been the best man at
her throat got a little dry. There was a lit- my wedding.
tle cup there that looked like it was filled ”Dad showed all of us what God is like, not
with water. But it was anointing oil. This only by what he said, but how he lived. He
lady took a big swallow of that oil. And was closer to God than any man I have ever
dad literally exploded on the platform. He known. I never received punishment from
could hardly sit on his chair. Of course the him in anger. I never heard him yell at any
whole congregation joined in, because when of us kids or at mom, and I never heard him
dad laughed, everyone around him laughed and mom argue in front of us. I’m sure they
too. It was great to make dad happy; his big must have had disagreements, but he showed
smile would light up his whole face. us the nature of Christ. He was also the most
”Dad always concealed his hurts. I know generous and giving person I’ve met.
there were a lot of time through the years ”One of the things that really stands out
when he was hurting for one reason or an- in my mind about my dad was his interest in
other, but he never let this affect the temper- the sports in which I was involved. Even as
ament of our home. As a result, our home a youngster I was too tall for my coordina-
was very stable and peaceful. tion. I had just as much as everybody else,
”In later years when he received criticism but it was spread out a lot thinner. When I
in relationship to his experiences with the an- started playing football in the fourth grade,
gels, he was hurt more than he would let any- dad was always there. He would come to as
68 CHAPTER 14. FOUR LITTLE BUCKS AND HOW THEY GREW
many practices as he could, even though he ”Dad taught me from the time I was very
was very busy. He was always at the game un- young how to treat girls and women, partly
less he was sick. I could count on it. He would from his own example of how he treated my
come and stand through an entire game, just mom and my sisters, with love and consider-
so he could watch me get in for the last thirty ation. There’s a strong bond between me and
seconds or one minute. my sisters. One time, however, all dad’s girls
”One year we got back late from our vaca- really got to him, and to me. I was eight or
tion and football had already started. I was nine years old and haircuts were expensive, so
so tall and skinny I had to play with kids a dad decided to become my barber. He came
year older because of my size. When I went home one night with a hair-cutting kit, and
out to practice, they had already been prac- begun to cut my hair. Dad was always so
ticing for one or two weeks. It was rough on good at doing anything, that he had perfect
me that day, because they were in shape and confidence in his ability to cut my hair. But
I wasn’t. At the end of that practice I told as he worked, he began to realize that it was
dad, ’I think I’m going to have to quit, I just going to take some practice in being able to
can’t do this!’ Dad didn’t push me but he get both sides the same, even on a crew cut.
told me something I’ll never forget. ’You’re In getting the hair even, he kept cutting it
tired right now. Don’t make a decision when shorter, and shorter. He was about half-way
you’re down! Let’s go home, get some sup- done when mom called everybody to supper.
per, and get you cleaned up, then you can When I sat down on my chair, my sisters
make up your mind.’ and my mom just dissolved into laughter.
”Of course, after supper and getting They also were having fun, at dad’s expense,
cleaned up, I felt better. This was when I teasing about his barbering. I felt so bad that
was in the sixth grade. I went on to finish I left the table, got a towel and wrapped it
that year, and as a result I played all through around my head like a turban, thinking that
junior high and high school. I was able to would cause the girls to quit teasing. But
earn a scholarship. And had four years of when I came back to the table with my towel
college paid for because of playing football. around my head, they exploded again. Fi-
This happened because dad gave me the wis- nally, dad said in a very stern voice, ’The
dom, and the guidance not to make a decision next one who laughs has to leave the table!’
when I was down. That was too much for my mother. She tried
”Another thing that helped shape my life to stop herself, but burst into giggles. Dad
were two words that my father told me he was really nonplussed, and he looked at her
wanted me to totally eliminate from my vo- and said, ’that means you too, Charm!’ That
cabulary. The two words, ”if only.” Those did it. Mom ran from the table consumed
two words are so destructive and harmful to with laughter. Giggles continued to break
people. He told me to replace those words out throughout the entire meal, but after-
with ”next time”. wards dad finished my haircut. It was short
69
all right, but with practice, he really did get cially the diesels. I’m sure it was real wisdom
pretty good at crew cuts. on my dad’s part, because he kept me so busy
”I remember a time when I was about naming cars, I didn’t have time to fuss when
eleven or twelve. I was worried because I we were out on the road.
didn’t feel that I could totally surrender my ”Knowing how to read came in handy one
life to God. I remember in our house on Fed- time when I was about two years old. We had
eral Way, sitting at the bottom of the stairs a dog, actually it was the neighbor’s dog, but
looking up to the top of the stairs at my dad, it adopted us, so the neighbors gave her to
and telling him, ’Dad, you know I want to us because she was at our house all the time
serve God. I want to be used of Him, and anyway. She was a big beautiful Chesapeake
I want Him to be able to do with me what Retriever named Skeeter. I had heard about
He wants. I think I could be a minister, but a little car called the King Midget, which was
dad, if God wants me to be a missionary, I smaller than most cars, because I was so fas-
just don’t think I can do it!” cinated by cars, Skeeter and I took off one
”In my own mind I didn’t want to go some day, without asking anybody, to find the King
place and live in a grass hut, eat fish heads, Midget. I got on my tricycle and we went all
be with a bunch of people I didn’t know, and the way downtown. A policeman came along
away from the ones I loved. He told me some- and saw I wasn’t with an adult, so he brought
thing that gave me such a trust in God. I me to the address on Skeeter’s collar. When
have been able to pass this on to others, and I got out of the car, everybody asked me if I
it is this ’God will never call you to some- was okay, and I said, ’Yup. Whenever I came
thing without giving you such a strong desire to a sign that said, s-t-o-p, I stopped!’
to do it, that it will be the only thing you’ll be ”Dad also taught me how to memorize
happy doing.’ At that point, I said, ’I guess whole chapters in the Bible. He helped me
that’s right. That’s the kind of God we serve, with math. He had a way of always helping
isn’t it?’ From that point on, I totally surren- you solve your own problems. I would come
dered, and I said, ’Okay, God, whatever you to him with problems in second-level algebra
have, here I am.’ All of us kids had one thing or geometry or calculus, and I would say, ’I’m
imparted to us, that fact that we could trust having a hard time with this problem, could
God, because He always had good things in you help me a little bit?’ He’d say, ’Explain it
store for us. to me,’ and I would go through the problem
”When I was two years old, dad taught me and explain it all, and he would say, ’Where
to read by making some flash cards of the are your stumped?’ I would explain that to
alphabet. He also taught me the name of ev- him, and all of sudden I would say, ’Wait
ery car and truck on the road, so that even at a second, I see!” I would go ahead and fig-
night, if we were out camping near a highway, ure out the problem, and then say, ’Thanks,
I could tell the difference between the kinds dad, for helping me!’ He provided a sound-
of trucks just by listening to the motors, espe- ing board for me and when I had problems, I
70 CHAPTER 14. FOUR LITTLE BUCKS AND HOW THEY GREW
could talk with him and rather than always but love God, because of the God we saw in
just hastily moving in and solving them or our father’s life. Church was a fun place to
saying, ’Hey, I can’t help you,’ he allowed me go because dad was there. We never had to
to be able to see things through. be forced to go because he made church so
I remember one time when I was about four exciting. Dad made all of life exciting and
years old. Dad and I were walking downtown fun. He was always the best athlete on the
to the Post Office, and he couldn’t figure out team, and was just plain fun to be around.
why I kept dropping back behind him. Fi- ”Dad would have been a fantastic athlete.
nally he said, ”Ted, why don’t you come up He taught me how to swim, how to ride a full-
here with me?” I told him, ’Well, daddy, you size bike when I was five. He taught me how
look so nice with your suit on, and these are to drive, starting at age two. I used to sit on
my play jeans that I have on and they’ve got his lap and steer, then at ages six and seven,
some patches on the knees, and I’m not really dad went to several conferences in Montana
cleaned up. I’ll walk behind you, because I and I helped him drive. I had to sit on a
don’t want people to think that you’re with pillow, but I was tall for my age. He would
me, because you look so good, and I look so sit on the other side of the car, relaxing as I
bad!’ Of course my dad just scooped me up was driving, seemingly with total confidence
in his arms and said, ’Son, it doesn’t matter in me.
how you look. I’m always proud to be seen ”He expressed that beautiful confidence in
with you.’ me when I was still in high school. He had
”He was proud of all of us. He and mom just bought a new Datsun 240Z that didn’t
made our home a sanctuary. We could always even have a thousand miles on it. A friend
feel comfortable at home, I had a shoe size and I were invited to speak at a retreat , and
that kept up with my age - from age ten until I was planning to drive my car, which was
finally my feet stopped growing at age and okay, but nothing flashy. It was snowing and
size fifteen. I had large ears, and I looked we were going up to a ski retreat where there
something like an ”L” with radar mounted on was a lot more snow. Dad tossed me the key
top, walking down the halls at school. I would to that neat little sports car and said, ’Here
receive criticism from my peers because my Ted, take this. I think you’ll have a good time
feet were bigger that theirs, or my ears were in it, and it’ll run really good on the trip!”
bigger, or my coordination hadn’t come into ”Something funny happened on one of our
full bloom. Yet when I went home, I always vacations. We went to Yellowstone Park in
felt important. My opinion was important. an old Nash whose seats folded down to make
I was special, because my folks made all of a bed. The four kids slept in that car, and
us feel that way. This has made me want to mom and dad slept in sleeping bags by the
treat everybody the same way. fire near the car. The fire was kind of dim,
”Dad didn’t just teach us rules, but princi- and something woke dad up. He noticed that
ples and values to live by. We couldn’t help there was a bear coming over to where he and
71
what kind of a pastor I want to be. All they yard, and play baseball together. At church
have to do is study Roland Buck as a pastor of picnics, when the men played baseball, as dad
a church, and they can see in him my model. got up to bat everyone in the outfield would
He was not a perfect man, but he came as back up. Boy, could he hit home runs.
close as anybody I’ve ever known. ”I remember one summer when I was about
”Shortly before he died, I was with him and two we went swimming. Dad was teaching
suddenly felt overcome with love for him, I the other kids to swim, but since I was so
told him how much I loved him and appreci- young he didn’t think I was listening. All of
ated him. I told him how much he and mom a sudden there was a splash as I jumped in to
had helped me when I needed it, and given to swim with the other kids. Dad told me later
me, even financially. He said, ”We never had that as he looked around, all he could see
that much money we could give you,” and I floating on top of the water was long blonde
informed him that he had given me a legacy hair. He quickly rescued me, expecting the
worth more than any amount of money he worst, but as he pulled out of the water, I
could ever have given me.” said, ”I did what you told the other kids to
MARILY - (MIM): ”One of the first things do, daddy. I didn’t breathe in the water!’
I remember about my dad was his great big ”Dad always showed he had confidence in
smile. He used to sing a song called ’You can his children. This confidence was keenly il-
Smile!’ On the last chorus you were supposed lustrated one time when we went on vacation
to leave off the word ’smile’ and instead show to Washington. I had just gotten my driver’s
as big a grin as you could, and then hum. license before we were to take our vacation
Whenever dad would lead that song, everyone and I wanted the chance to do some driving.
would burst into laughter because his smile I asked my dad if I could drive and he told
was ear-to-ear. me that, if I really wanted to drive, I would
”He loved athletics and was so proud of have to drive the stretch of the Ellensburg
mom as well as Ted, Charm and I because we Canyon. At that time, there was only a two-
all were very coordinated. I remember when lane road with a steep drop-off to a river on
I was little how he would talk about the home one side and the mountain on the other, plus
runs my mother could hit, he went to Charm it was very curvy. The thought of driving
and Ted’s games, and finally it was my turn. that stretch of road scared me, but I knew if
He was so proud of my baseball prowess. I wanted to drive, I would have to overcome
”I played on a softball team for several my fear. I took over the wheel with a lump
years. I loved to look over at the sidelines and in my throat. I think my mother, who was
see my father cheering me on. I would want riding in the back seat, had an even bigger
to give more than 100 percent so he would be lump in her throat. I started down the steep,
proud of me. curvy road and began to relax, dad would
”He was a terrific baseball player himself. help me by telling me when I should brake
Our whole family used to go out into the back for a corner and would encourage me and tell
73
”I remember one evening about a week be- was available - spiritually, physically, or fi-
fore dad died, our family was all over at mom nancially.
and dad’s house relaxing in the family room. ”Our spunky red-haired mother shared in
My dad really loved Ted’s little girl, Cherry. having a strong influence on the four of us.
She was such a happy baby. She was only She didn’t seem to let anything shock her.
about a year old and did not usually want She rolled with the teenage storms we all
to be held and loved by many people. For went through, and would never make a big
some reason, that night she climbed up into thing out of the fads and fashions as they
my dad’s lap, gave him a love and sat there would come and go. She seemed to remem-
with him. She did this over and over, and I ber how it felt to be young. The truth is my
could see how happy he was to have her show mother is the kind of person who will never
him her love. After dad went to be with the grow old, because she is blessed with a young
Lord, that was one scene that kept coming and joyful spirit.”
back to me and touching my heartstrings. Mom wraps up this chapter of the four
”One thing that had a great impact on me bucks:
was seeing the love displayed between my par- ”We were always in a building program try-
ents. They had tremendous respect and con- ing to provide more room. Roland knocked
sideration for each other. I decided when I on many doors and ministered to many peo-
got married that I would not settle for any- ple’s needs so the churches grew.
thing less than that type of relationship. ”He was like a Rock of Gibraltar to me,
”Throughout the years there were people especially when the children were sick. He
who did not agree with my father, and some often tried his hand at cooking. However,
even tried to hurt his ministry. He did not there was one concoction he made from left-
react, instead he prayed for them, and tried overs that we named ”Hash Malali,” which
to give them some extra love. He would not the children ate only because they were hun-
talk badly about anyone, although it must gry.
have hurt him to know some things which ”I am so thankful for the solidarity and
were said about him. love that Roland gave to me and the fam-
”Many people wondered why angels would ily. There were some traumatic events in our
visit my father, and he wondered this too. I lives - Sharon with rheumatic fever, the death
feel the Lord had the angels visit dad because of Terry, several heart attacks, and a heart
he had shown himself to be a humble, good arrest. Yet, through all of these times, he
and faithful servant for the Lord. He was maintained a calmness that kept us from be-
willing to do whatever was necessary to help coming distraught.
people find the way to true joy and happiness ”Animals were an integral part of our lives.
in the Lord. Roland loved them, and passed that love onto
”It seems like dad could not keep from all our children. Charm especially seemed to
helping people. If a need was there, my dad always be bringing home some kind of animal
75
The church at Latah that had seemed too of babies and pre-school children, not only on
big sixteen years before, had been stretched, Sunday, but specialized care during the week
added onto, remodeled, but finally once again for children of working mothers ... also for
daddy was faced with the delightful problem possible kindergarten or lower grade-school
that there were very few square feet left for use.
expansion. The church was completely filled ”In addition to this I see in the future of
with about 600 people. this church a recreation area for use by all
Daddy and the board of the church began ages. Included in this projected outreach of
to pray for direction. He took a week off and our church may well be apartments for those
went up to a cabin in McCall, Idaho, to med- in retirement or in need of emergency hous-
itate and pray and set some goals. The Lord ing ... not to forget facilities for kind Chris-
gave him direction as to what He wanted to tian care for the ill and bedfast. Yes, I see
accomplish through the ministry of Central this church as the center of life and activ-
Assembly. ity for the families associated and for those
The following is an excerpt from the Pas- God brings our way so that we need not look
tor’s Report dated January 17, 1973: beyond ourselves for the answer to our tem-
”I would like to share with you some of the poral and spiritual needs. Truly a great door
goals which I believe God has included in His is open. This is our day. We cannot afford to
plans for Central Assembly in the not so dis- let it pass but will advance until He comes.”
tant future. I see facilities geared to meet Daddy and mother began looking for some
the present and future needs of this vigorous property. They really had fun driving around
church. A worship center with ample seating Boise together, prayerfully seeking just the
for reasonably projected growth with a plat- right spot for the new church which would
form stage area built around the needs of our be a Christian Life Center. The Lord had so
expanding choir and music ministry. Facili- impressed on daddy the importance of the
ties and equipment for the care and training whole man, body, soul and spirit, and he
77
78 CHAPTER 15. TIME TO BUILD AGAIN
Queenie
If only Queenie could talk, imagine the mother and fell in love. She tore across the
things she could tell us! Queenie is a beauti- room and leaped into her lap, which wasn’t
ful Great Dane, now eight years old. She was nearly big enough to hold her. Mother gin-
with daddy during most of his meetings with gerly patted Queenie on the head, as she
the angels. She has been privileged to have laughed and said, ”Honey, this is not my
her ears scratched by these heavenly beings. birthday present!” All of us kids were chuck-
Daddy loved animals, especially dogs. ling as we watched Queenie trying to snuggle
Queenie was sort of a birthday present to my up on mothers lap, and impossible feat! She
mother. Sort of a birthday present because jumped down and bounded around the room,
she came to live in the Buck household on making herself at home. Mother did have
my mothers’ birthday, and how could mother some other birthday presents, by the way, but
not accept her birthday gift? Mom liked lit- Queenie was there to stay!
tle dogs, and probably would have loved a toy Queenie grew into a beautiful, sleek dog.
poodle, or a little house dog. The family al- She and daddy became constant companions.
ready had a dog named Bronco who was part ¡¡ Queenie and Dad Whenever you saw daddy
Dachshund, and part Cocker Spaniel. The out walking, close behind was a beautiful
part that was Dachshund was the short legs Dane. Queenie made a path from the parson-
and long, long body. The rest of Bronco was age, across the fields to the church. Daddy
Spaniel. He was a funny looking and an en- began to walk to church with Queenie, fol-
dearing dog. Daddy walked in with Queenie, lowing her path as it zigzagged through the
who at two months, towered over Bronco. Al- tall grass.
though Queenie was already quite large, she Queenie spent many hours in daddy’s office
only knew that she was a puppy, and as such,
as he prayed with people and counseled with
wanted to be loved. them. When some people would be fearful of
Daddy said, ”Charm, here’s your birth- the big Dane, we staff members would smile
day present!” Queenie took one look at my and tell them not to be because, ”Queenie is
81
82 CHAPTER 16. QUEENIE
Daddy loved music. He had a choir in ev- Daddy and the board discussed who should
ery church he pastored, and Central Assem- become the new director for the group which
bly was no exception. Mother directed the had become such a vital arm of Central As-
choir for many years. sembly. They came up with a list of several
In 1965 there was a tremendous revival people including me. Daddy okayed every
that swept our youth. Many were saved and name on the list, but told the board members
baptized in the Holy Spirit. The first thing he wasn’t sure about me. He didn’t want the
we young people wanted to do was find some fact that we were related to cause problems
way of sharing the new life we had found. We for me if I was chosen as director. Because
decided to form a choir, and share the life of of my name being on the list, daddy stepped
Jesus thru music. The choir was directed by back from making the final decision, and told
one of the girls in the group, Gloria Locklear, the board members to make this selection a
and I became her assistant. real matter of prayer. If they felt the direc-
The church began advertising us as the tion of the Lord on any of these names, in-
Singing Ambassadors, and soon the city of cluding his daughter, Sharon, he would ac-
Boise became aware of this turned-on, young, cept their choice as being from the Lord.
singing group. The board members did make this a mat-
Gloria directed the Singing Ambassadors ter of prayer and fasting. Several of them
for four years. During this time we made sev- prayed for many, many hours. They felt that
eral record albums locally. Then Gloria met their choice was very important because of
”Mr. Right” and was married. She and her the tremendous impact the choir had made
husband moved away to attend college. in the lives of the young people and also in
Several people worked with the choir on a the ministry of the church.
part-time basis following Gloria’s departure, Early one morning my phone rang. It was
but with the type of ministry it had become, one of the board members asking me to meet
it really needed a full-time director. with the board that evening. I had butterflies
83
84 CHAPTER 17. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
all day, and I, too, asked the Lord for direc- tical twins, who played football with him.
tion, especially because I was now married They were big handsome guys. Thru his wit-
with two young children, ages three months ness, and his invitation to a special youth
and fourteen months. revival, those two young men accepted the
That evening I felt a quickening in my Lord. They had become part of the choir sev-
heart as the board members told me after eral years after the group was formed. Greg
much prayer, they felt very definitely led of had a deep bass voice, and Jeff played the
the Lord to ask me to be the director. drums. When I began to direct the choir, my
I did not have a strong musical back- brother Ted and these two young men really
ground, but I did have a great love for music, got behind me and supported my efforts by
and a real desire to serve the Lord. I decided their faithfulness to the ministry. Jeff totally
that if the Lord wanted me, then together we gave his drumming ability to the Lord and to
could do anything. the choir.
I was so very close to my dad in my Jeff and Greg spent a lot of time in our
growing-up years, and had absorbed so much home because of their friendship with Ted,
of his love for people, I had the priceless op- and their involvement in the music ministry.
portunity now, to put into action all that I They both shared with me their special love
had learned from all those years of associa- for Pastor Buck:
tion with my father. Jeff: ”My first exposure to Pastor Buck
First of all, the twenty-six young people was while sitting around the dinner table
who had stayed with the group during this with Ted and my brother.
transition time got together with me and we ”The special thing about him was his will-
prayed up a storm asking God for divine di- ingness to listen to you while you were trying
rection. to sort things out, and not just telling you
Next, I wrote every young person who had what to do. He didn’t attack what you were
ever come thru the doors of Central Assem- believing as a young Christian. He sought to
bly, and invited them to a planning meeting. understand it, and then reflect why he didn’t
Imagine my excitement when fifty-six young feel the same way, discussing the pros and
people showed up. cons. When you left, you would know where
Daddy gently guided me and with the Lord he stood, but he didn’t berate how you be-
on our side, the group began to come together lieved.
once again into a dynamic tool for the Lord. ”He was really low key, and one of the valu-
Daddy understood that young people often able things about him was that he didn’t say,
like different types of music other than the es- ’Let me tell you what the Bible says’ and just
tablished music of the church. So although he give a pat answer to the need in your life,
encouraged a balance, he allowed the group but he would help you search out what you
to sing songs full of the life and joy of youth. were feeling, and would give God some work-
My brother, Ted, had two friends, iden- ing room.
85
”In my sophomore year of college, I was ”When he died it was like losing part of
trying to find what direction my life was go- my family. It was a shock. It was as if there
ing to take. I needed some time to be alone, were a solid piece of your life that’s been there
so Pastor Buck let me stay in the church for providing a stability and suddenly it’s gone! I
three or four days. He understood that I had to do a tremendous amount of adjusting
needed solitude more than talking. There’s after his death. Ted was a lot of help to me.
nothing quite so wonderful and moving as He took it better than I did. I felt apart.
praying in a dark, empty church at night, just ”When he was visited by angels, I thought
being able to be alone and to worship, praise, if it had happened to anyone else, I couldn’t
and sing to the Lord. It was what I needed believe it, but with him, it had to be true.
most. That’s the way I felt, because I knew him
”Pastor Buck never pushed, but he tried well enough, and knew that he was so down
to genuinely understand. After all was said to earth, something like this had to be real.”
and done, he would step aside and say, ’From Greg is a sales representative for a phar-
here on in it’s not my job, it’s God’s!’” maceutical company.
Jeff is now a Doctor in Human Factors Psy- Soon after I began directing the group, I
chology. He is a Project Engineer at Hughes became dissatisfied with just drums and pi-
Aircraft Co. in California. ano, and I asked the Lord for a good trum-
Greg: ”Ted brought my brother and me to peter. The Lord answered my prayers by di-
church. Pastor Buck seemed like he was al- recting me to the very best, a talented young
ways interested in us. It wasn’t a superficial musician and trumpeter, Dan Smith. Dan
thing as if he was asking you about yourself shares the story in his own words of our meet-
because it was the thing to do. There was ing:
a genuine interest. You could relate to him Dan: ”I was confronted with the possibility
because he was such a masculine guy. He of going to Central by my roommate. He had
had real strength, yet he had a deep com- gone to a Sunday night service the week be-
passion. He really cared about the people fore, and said that there was a good youth
he was working with, and cared about what group there. The next Sunday morning I
was important to you. It’s hard to describe visited the service and have been going ever
Pastor Buck, to put into words your feelings since.
about somebody like him. His voice was deep ”The vivacious people my age made the
and resonant, yet there was a mellowness and whole idea seem very enticing, and as an
compassion that came thru clearly. You could added bonus, lo and behold, there was a
look at his eyes, that were deep and dark, forty-voice youth choir that sang just my kind
quiet, yet powerful. You didn’t have to put of music!
on pretenses. You knew you could be yourself ”A week and a half later, Sharon White
around him, relax and feel at ease. It seemed came sneaking around my dog food aisle at
he knew what you were like anyway. Buttrey’s Supermarket and asked me if I
86 CHAPTER 17. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
Daddy absolutely loved children! He was thirty minutes to an hour a week for Jason.
never too busy to talk with them. And he A whole new world opened up to him because
considered what they had to say as important daddy began teaching this little five-year-old
as any adult. This truly endeared him to the boy how to read. Once a week Jason would
children. come into his office, and every time he left, he
Jason was three and a half years old and was carrying a little tablet with his reading
extremely hyperactive. His mother had her assignment on it. Daddy also shared with
hands full with three other children. One day, him what God was really like and taught him
she and her husband decided to take Jason how to talk to God all by himself.
in to see my father. When he prayed for lit- Jason became a new little boy, and was
tle Jason, they could feel the calming power happy because my father called him his ”little
of God go through that little body, relaxing buddy.”
those tight little muscles. One day Jason said, ”Mom, Pastor Buck
Jason did very well the next year and a must be an awful lot like God!” She asked,
half, but when he started kindergarten, hy- ”Why is that, honey?” He responded, ”Be-
peractivity again became a problem, espe- cause he loves us little kids so much!”
cially in his dealings with other children. Ja- Daddy also had another little boy who was
son’s mother and teacher were at their wit’s his ”buddy.” This little boy had a problem of
end. Since he was attending the Maranatha being all brain and no brawn. Dad met with
Kindergarten at Central Assembly, they de- him once a week also, and worked with his
cided to make an appointment for Jason to muscles. He would give him a different kind
see daddy by himself. of assignment, that of doing so many push-
Although my father was very busy, his ups, sit-ups, or running so many miles as his
counseling schedule alone sometimes amount- homework. My father encouraged young and
ing to 50 hours a week, he wasn’t too busy to old to have a balance of body, soul and spirit.
see this little boy. A boxing ring in the church? Daddy de-
After the first session, he scheduled from cided to give the boys at Maranatha High
89
90 CHAPTER 18. PASTOR BUCK AND THE KIDS
School some boxing lessons, sharing with tle kids in his church what God was really
them some of the knowledge and skill he had like. So every Sunday evening an hour be-
developed in years past. At the same time, fore the service, he opened his office to ”lit-
he would be able to gain a priceless rapport tle kids only.” His office would be crammed
with these young men, and could incorporate with several dozen children. He would teach
some solid spiritual truths into their boxing them about the beautiful nature of God. He
lessons. He talked one of the gyms into loan- showed them how to pray for one another and
ing him good equipment. The boys loved it. led them in worship.
Every Wednesday was their day, and they During one of these sessions, he talked
would never let their teacher forget them. about fear of the dark and noises at night.
All other appointments had to wait while he He told the children that the Bible say that
worked with his boxing class. the angels of the Lord encamp around those
One night, visitors to the church were as- who love the Lord. He told them that when
tonished to walk in and find a boxing ring set they heard creaking noises or scary sounds
up in the middle of the foyer. My father and in the night, it was just the angels throwing
Pastor Mike, our youth pastor, were the ref- more wood on their campfire.
erees, and the boxing class of Maranatha was He had a good chuckle about a week later
having an exhibition. when a mother called and told him her little
One of the boys who was part of that class boy had been trying to go to sleep the night
told me how daddy had called him into his of- before. It was a stormy night. The wind
fice one day. He was scared, wondering what was howling and making the house creak with
he had done. Dad did not beat around the scary noises. Finally, her little boy called
bush. He told this young man that God had her and said, ”Mom, I sure wish those angels
let him know some things he was doing in would be a little more quiet. I can’t get to
secret. The young man was really startled. sleep because they’re making so much noise
He prayed with my father and he quit doing around their campfire!”
those things. Daddy continued to pray for One day, Queenie stole the lunch of a lit-
him. tle kid who was a little more resourceful than
Several weeks before this book was written, most. This young man decided to go straight
this young man came to my office and shared to the top. He knocked on my dad’s door.
that he had given his life completely over to Daddy opened the door, and there stood a
the Lord. He was so thankful for the kind little boy who said, ”Pastor Buck, Queenie
of pastor who cared enough to share himself stole my lunch.” Dad said, ”Well, we can’t
with him and his friends. have that, can we?” That afternoon a very
Daddy had a terrific idea. Although he proud little guy went to lunch with his pas-
was putting in many, many hours already and tor at the drive-in down the street. Word got
Sunday was a big day, he decided that he around, and pretty soon Queenie was having
wanted the chance to share with all the lit- a field day with lunches ”accidentally” left ly-
91
ing around. More and more kids were knock- later, my sister, Charm, adopted a little boy,
ing on daddy’s door with the sad story of Bryan. Both grandparents were so thrilled
Queenie stealing their lunches. He really got and delighted, it was fun to see. That Sun-
a chuckle out of this and said, ”Those kids are day my dad’s buttons just about popped as
sure smart little rascals, aren’t they?” Actu- he said with great pride, ”It isn’t every man
ally, he really enjoyed taking these little ones that can get three grandchildren in less than
to lunch once in a while. one year!”
The church had an excellent preschool day- When I was a young girl growing up, my
care program. Every day at noon the little father used to build me up. Now that I was a
kids would line up and march over to the mother of two little babies, he would compli-
church where there was a dining room with ment me often on what a fine mother I had
tables just their size, right next to dad’s of- turned out to be. Even when I felt like I
fice. Every once in a while, he would open his was the worst, witchy mother in the world, he
door when he would hear the children going would pat me on the back and say, ”Honey,
to lunch, and when they would see him, they you’re doing just great.”
would say in their little voices, ”There’s Pas- When the two little boy cousins, Terry and
tor Buck. Hi, Pastor Buck!” He would come Bryan, and Angie got together, it was really
out of his office and get down on one knee to something. When they were 3 and 4 years old
talk to them, and they all would swarm over I overheard the three of them telling some lit-
to him and have to have a hug. tle kids who were acting up, ”You had better
His last Halloween, all the little kids in the be good, ’cause our grandpa is the boss of
preschool dressed up for a party. Pastor Buck this church.”
was invited to come over and see all of them. Daddy was absolutely delighted with his
They were so excited when he walked in. Ev- six grandchildren, my two, Angie and Terry,
erybody wanted him to see their costumes. Charm’s three, Bryan, Heather and Heidi and
He got down on one knee, and just like a sig- Ted’s little girl, Cherry. He felt they were
nal had been given, the children formed a line the brightest, sharpest, little grandchildren
around him and each one had to have an in- ever born. He built up their self-esteem just
dividual hug and show off their costume. like he did with all of us kids when we were
Daddy was a typical, proud grandfather. growing up.
He loved his grandchildren. My daugh- After daddy had gone to be with the Lord,
ter, Angie, was the first grandchild, and he my two children were saying their bedtime
thought she was the prettiest, most delight- prayers. They were in separate bedroom
ful little creature he had ever seen. ”Nana” so they didn’t hear each other. My heart
Buck, of course, shared these feelings to- was so touched as they both ended their
tally. Eleven months later, I presented my prayers with, ”And God, would you please
father with a little grandson, Terry, and he tell grandpa we miss him and we still love
thought his life was complete. Then nine days him!”
92 CHAPTER 18. PASTOR BUCK AND THE KIDS
One Monday morning my father walked gan to stream down his cheeks as he contin-
into my office. This was not unusual because, ued sharing with me the message the angel
although he was very busy, he would often had brought from God. Tears filled my eyes
take a few minutes out of his busy schedule, too, as I listened to what my father was say-
and he and Queenie would stroll down the ing. He was a man who would never try to
hall to my office for a little chat. be flamboyant or lean toward the sensational
That particular morning he threw me a just to reach people. He had steered a steady,
bombshell. We were quietly discussing the middle-of-the-road course for many years, not
services the day before, when in the same or- following the different fads that would come
dinary tone of voice daddy asked me a very and go as men were seeking their way in the
extraordinary question. He said, ”Honey, new charismatic outpourings from God.
what would you say if I told you that I had
The supernatural work of God thru my
a visit from an angel last Saturday night?”
dad’s life didn’t begin with the angelic vis-
I said, ”What?” He repeated, ”I had a visit
itations. All thru his ministry God would, at
from an angel last Saturday night!” ”Wow!”
different times, let him know areas of need in
was my response! He asked, ”Do you believe
people’s lives as he would shake their hands
me?” I told him, ”Of course I do!”
following a church service. Or God would re-
He then began to describe this incredible veal someone to him as they were involved
encounter. I literally hung on every word. I in something they wouldn’t want anyone to
asked when he was going to share this visit know about. Daddy would either immedi-
with the congregation. He said he didn’t ately go to that person, or tell them later, as
know, and wondered if people would believe God would direct. There were a lot of peo-
him. I told him, ”Of course they will!” He ple who learned how much God cared about
then dropped another bombshell, as he said what they did or did not do, as He would re-
softly, ”He was the angel, Gabriel!” veal these things to Dad. God could trust dad
My mouth really fell open then. Tears be- with any information, because unless God re-
93
94 CHAPTER 19. THE BOOK, ANGELS ON ASSIGNMENT
leased it in his spirit, no one else ever knew desk. He told the Lord, ”I didn’t realize I was
the secrets God had shown him other than that white!” He hadn’t seen the back of his
the person involved. He always said that he head that much, and he didn’t realize before
felt the word of knowledge can be a dangerous how white his hair was becoming. When he
thing in the hands of a careless person. sat up, he found the paper from heaven still
I remember when one of my good bud- in his hand. As he shared with me, I can’t
dies was dating one of the girls in our youth really express the feeling in my heart of awe
group. They became engaged, and as the and wonder. He told me that he laid the pa-
date for their marriage approached, dad won- per on his desk. When he went home he was
dered why the young man was avoiding him. white as a sheet. When my mother asked him
One day I asked my buddy why he was avoid- what was wrong, he could not tell her at first.
ing dad. He said, ”Well, sometimes my fi- The next morning when he went back to his
ancee and I get kind of involved on Saturday office to look at the paper, all that was laying
night, and I know that God knows, but I just where it had been were very light fluffy ashes.
don’t want God to tell Pastor Buck!” He left them there all morning. His secre-
Dad’s first ”out of body” experience was tary, Jo Ann Marsden came in and saw the
a visit to God’s throne room. One Saturday ashes but she didn’t disturb them, although
night in January, 1977, about ten-thirty in she wondered what they were.
the evening, daddy was seated at his desk Finally at the end of the day he scooped
meditating and praying and preparing his the ashes into an envelope not wanting to at-
heart for Sunday. His head was resting in tach any special reverence to them other than
his arms on the desk, when suddenly without that they were heavenly ashes. When I saw
any warning he was taken right out of the the ashes the next day it was very strange be-
room, and he heard a voice say, ”Come with cause they did not leave a sooty mark on the
me into the throne room where the secrets of envelope. They finally evaporated completely
the universe are kept!” Immediately he was leaving the envelope just like new.
in God’s throne room. While he was there Before his death, all 120 predictions had
he learned many things from God himself. In been fulfilled. About a year and a half after
fact, God gave him a paper that had a list of his throne room visit, he received the first
120 things that would occur in the two years message, thru angelic messenger, from the
that were to follow. On that list were things Father.
that related to his ministry, names of peo- Altogether, he was privileged to experience
ple, places and also events relating to world 27 angelic visitations between June 18, 1978,
happenings. This visit to the throne room and October 13, 1979. Eighteen of these
is described in detail in daddy’s book. As he are described in the book, Angels On As-
was coming back from this visit and as he en- signment. Portions of the nine visitations
tered the room, he saw himself from behind, which occurred following the publishing of
and saw his body with his head down on his that book will be shared in the next few chap-
95
ters.
Early one morning the Holy Spirit told my
dad to write the following:
”Write, preserve the words which I have
spoken to you. They shall become a light
to many. I will not only minister thru you,
but will accompany these words, and give
them life wherever sent, even as I have al-
ready given wings to My messages brought
to you by the angel of the Lord. Fear not to
speak in His name, for the words I give are
not your words, but His words, and are es-
tablished forever. Are they not found in His
eternal living Word? Long closed doors of
many peoples and nations will be penetrated
Figure 19.1: Interviews.
by these words of life. I command the hosts
of the Lord who have been sent forth for this
hour to hasten the gathering together unto by divine messenger.
Him a people for His Name, and to prepare The tapes finally reached Charles and
them for that Great Day of the Lord. They Frances Hunter thru some friends and their
will both precede and follow these words from hearts were thrilled and their spirits quick-
the Father to make ready the people, to scat- ened by the tremendous messages they heard.
ter forces of darkness, and to gently care for God’s plan for getting His message out was
the multitudes who will hear.” unfolding thru the obedience of the Hunters
Daddy had this promise from the Lord, so in responding to the urgency of this message.
he never tried in any way to help God get the Charles and Frances contacted daddy and
message out that He told him to share with their spirits witnessed genuineness as they
the world. He simply preached the messages spent time sharing with him.
to his congregation and left the rest up to These dedicated servants of God, worked
God. day and night for the next few months to
Tapes of the messages he preached to his edit the messages from the tapes. The
congregation began to circulate all over the manuscripts flew back and forth between
United States. Soon the tapes were being du- Houston and Boise, and finally on July 5,
plicated and sent all over the United States 1979, the book was completed, and ready
and Canada, and to many countries around for distribution in bookstores throughout the
the world. Requests came from people who United States.
were hungry to hear the messages straight Daddy began to get calls from many places
from God’s heart, as brought to my father to speak. Following the leading of the Lord,
96 CHAPTER 19. THE BOOK, ANGELS ON ASSIGNMENT
sign!”
God suddenly showed dad what the man
who was calling looked like as well as another
man who had taken part and was listening to
the call on another extension. God showed
him the kind of truck they were driving when
they damaged the sign, the license number,
their address, even the clothes they had on
at the time of the phone call. He called them
both by name, and told them the information
that God had showed him. Both men began
to cry out to God over the phone, and daddy
Figure 19.2: Giving Autograph. had the privilege of praying with them.
Another time he received a call from a
he traveled extensively in the months that fol- woman who was near hysterical. Her hus-
lowed, sharing in large auditorium meetings, band had left the house with a gun, planning
TV programs and in small fellowships. to shoot my father because of the tremendous
People everywhere were finding Jesus. change in the lives of his sons, who had ac-
Hundreds of thousands found new hope thru cepted Jesus thru reading the book, Angels
the beautiful Bible truths illuminated by di- on Assignment. The man never arrived, and
vine messenger, and shared thru the book daddy just kept on preaching the love of Je-
and tapes. sus.
Over and over daddy pointed people to In some cities where he was asked to
Jesus. He told them that every message speak, both Satan-worshipers and Christians
brought by angelic messenger exalted Jesus planned to picket the meetings. However,
by reminding them what the sacrifice of Je- God always worked it out so they failed! God
sus meant to a lost world. Thru this sacrifice, had something He wanted to accomplish, and
men and women once again could be recon- nothing and no one could stop it.
ciled with the Father. The Hunters also experienced some perse-
The enemy of our souls could not stand cution, but they, too, had caught the vision of
to see so many people finding Jesus, and he what God is doing these last days, and they
began to stir up controversy and even hate. marched forward with a God-given boldness
A sign on the front of the church with to fulfill their part in bringing this message
daddy’s name on it was vandalized and torn to the world.
down. He then received an anonymous phone Daddy was told by divine messenger to ig-
call from a man who said, ”If you don’t stop nore the thrusts that were being made at him
preaching the messages from angels, I’m go- and at the message contained in the book.
ing to bash your head in, just like I did that The angel referred him to Isaiah 45:9, ”Let
97
the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the to bring you to a point of choice, because God
earth.” (”Destruction is certain for those who loves you so much!
argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot The main focus of the messages brought by
ever argue with its maker? Does the clay the angels over and over again is the sacrifice
dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, of Jesus. He bore the stroke of God’s judg-
’Stop, you are doing it wrong!’ Does the pot ment in His own body. Because of this sac-
exclaim, ’How clumsy can you be!’” New Liv- rifice, when men and women accept what He
ing Translation) has done, they are restored to their original
The prophecy has come true with regard state of innocence in God’s eyes. They are
to the book, Angels on Assignment. It has made just as though they had never sinned.
been published in nine languages, and has They are not pardoned in God’s eyes, because
gone into many countries around the world. pardon means the records are still there,
At this writing (1982) over 550,000 have been but they are justified which means made as
sold since it came out in July, 1979. though they have never sinned.
The question is asked many times, ”Why What does this mean to you? It means
did God send angelic visitors to Pastor when you find Jesus, you are not an ex-
Buck?” His answer to that was, ”I don’t know alcoholic, or an ex-homosexual, or an ex-
why. I probably wouldn’t have chosen me if prostitute, but the blood of Jesus covers you,
I were God! But God did choose me, and I letting God see only the righteousness of Je-
am simply obeying Him!” sus when He looks at you. You are therefore
The book by Charles and Frances Hunter, restored to your original state of innocence,
as told to them by my father contains the as clean and pure in the eyes of the Father as
message that God wants the world to know. the day you were born. That’s what atone-
In a nutshell, though, the following is the ment means to you.
message that was given. Doesn’t this make you want to accept the
There is good news for you and your family wonderful new life that God offers you thru
in these last days! God has sent out a host the sacrifice of His Son Jesus? Why not do it
of angels to push, prod, and do whatever is right now? Jesus said ”If you call upon My
necessary to bring people to a point of choice Name, you will be saved!” Just say, ”Jesus, I
in accepting what He has done for them thru accept what You have done for me, I believe
the sacrifice of Jesus. The angels aren’t lis- in You, and I want to be your child from now
tening to any objections from the individual, on. Thank You for loving me so much!”
and if they don’t choose Jesus the first time, You are now born into the kingdom with a
then the cycle will start all over again. An- new heart, a new hope and a new life.
gelic forces are on the job. Another very important part of what God
If you don’t know the Lord, and someone wants the world to know is that believers will
from your family is praying for you, you are not be at the White Throne Judgment. That
highly favored of God. He has sent His angels judgment is only for those who reject Christ.
98 CHAPTER 19. THE BOOK, ANGELS ON ASSIGNMENT
The main theme of the message brought him. Here are some excerpts. ”As I related
to my father by angelic messenger was the my life to you on April 9, 1977, you didn’t
sacrifice of Jesus. God also shared with dad seem surprised at anything I said, it was as if
that one of the highest priorities - one of the you already knew. I discovered later that you
closest things to God’s heart - was the family. did, because my name was on a list you had
With God’s aid and grace, daddy had received from the throne room of Almighty
put many families back together through the God. You had been expecting me and it was
years and he cherished his own family so no surprise to you that I accepted Jesus as
much. my Lord and Savior.
The next story is representative of the ”My life had been a series of ups and
many people whose marriages were touched downs. I was raised in a parsonage and had
by God thru the yielded ministry of my fa- been to the altar many times, but somehow
ther. The first part of this story of Jim and I never completely surrendered. I became
Susan Olson was told in the book Angels on a medium and minister holding séances and
Assignment. In brief, Jim was number thirty- giving readings. Controlled by demons, I had
four of the list of 120 events, people and dates sunk as low as a man can go.
that dad brought back with him from his visit ”As I tried to break away from this life, I
to God’s throne room. lost my home, my dignity, and then my fam-
Jim had sold out his life to Satan as a sa- ily. I had no place to go! My home became
tanic priest. The Lord had given dad his infested with rats that could not be killed! I
name and even let him see Jim. On God’s de- called my mom and dad in Idaho and found
signed date, he came to the church and daddy that they still loved me. I left the spiritual-
recognized him, greeted him, and told him to ist center and came to Idaho ... and like the
come into his office. God saved him, blotted prodigal son ... was welcomed home. In a
out all of the old evil that was in him, and short time, the Lord gave my family back to
gave him new hope and new victory. me and my wife and I took a trip to Hawaii.
Soon after, dad received this letter from We met a couple there from Boise who invited
99
100 CHAPTER 20. ’TILL DEATH DO US PART’
Daddy had the unique privilege in this day It could have been partly fright, but not to-
and age of meeting personally Gabriel, the tally. There was such a radiation of power
angel who dwells in the presence of God, from these angels because they come directly
Michael the great archangel, and ministering from God’s presence. My reaction was simi-
angels from different parts of the world. Dur- lar to being slain in the Spirit.
ing his several visits to heaven, he was able to ”The spokesman reached out and took hold
see the beauty of the worship angels as they of me and my strength returned. Then he
praised and worshiped Jesus. told me he was Gabriel, and introduced me to
Here from daddy’s tapes, in his own words, the angel with him, whose name was Chrioni.
are some interesting insights about these He was a warring angel who was assigned to
heavenly visitors. travel with Gabriel at this time.
”I used to think that all angels looked alike. ”I learned that no two angels look alike.
Every picture I saw of them made them look They are all different sizes with different hair
alike. I was surely surprised. color and styles. Gabriel stands about 7’2”
”The angel had visited with me twice in tall and has gold-blonde hair. It’s straight,
my bedroom, and all I had seen was his out- and goes about halfway over his ears. It’s
line against the light coming from my yard. kind of a nice style. He has a more slen-
Even this was overwhelming. But one night der build than Chrioni. Chrioni’s hair was
I noticed a bluish light coming up from the black and had big loose curls. They were both
staircase. I thought I had left a light on in very handsome, and looked about twenty-five
one of the rooms downstairs, so I decided to to thirty years old. Chrioni was about four
get up and turn the light off. I got halfway inches taller than Gabriel, and if I saw a man
down the stairs, and the stairway light came this big, I would know that he weighed 400
on. I looked up and saw two of the largest pounds or more. Chrioni’s voice was so full
men I have ever seen in my life. My knees and deep, he would make Big John Hall sound
buckled and I started to fall down the stairs. like a tenor.
103
104 CHAPTER 21. MORE ABOUT ANGELS
”The first time I saw these two angels, directives as He senses the need.’
Gabriel was dressed in a silver-colored tunic ”Then Gabriel asked me to take a look out
and slacks with a tie lacing it at the neck. the window. I was amazed to see about one-
Chrioni was dressed the same only his shirt hundred of these men, like the big warring
was brown. Their skin and clothing glowed angel Chrioni, standing in my driveway ca-
with a heavenly radiance. sually chatting with each other. It made me
”I asked them, ’Why are you here?’ feel pretty good to know that God has ways
Gabriel then began to share some more beau- and means of taking care of His people!
tiful truths with me about God’s care for the ”I might note that to this point Chrioni
people that He had created. had not spoken to me. I had heard him talk-
”He told me that the Holy Spirit monitors ing to Gabriel, but he spoke in a different
the whole earth at one time, and picks up language. Gabriel told me that angels could
signals from everywhere. He can even hear only speak with people as God would give
the bird that falls, wherever it is. I knew this them permission. Later on during another
was true academically, but this truth really visit, God did give Chrioni permission to talk
became real to me that night. with me, and he really had some interesting
”Gabriel continued to share with me that things to share.
the Holy Spirit had sensed a massive build- ”I asked Chrioni to tell me about some of
up of satanic forces that wanted to attack me, his most exciting memories. One of the mem-
because of what God was doing thru my min- ories he mentioned reminded me of how old
istry. He told me then that the Spirit not only he must be since angels were created before
monitors the whole earth, He’s the one who the earth was formed.
sends out the orders to the angels to go and ”Chrioni told about the time he helped
scatter the enemy forces. lead the Children of Israel out of the land
”I was a little concerned then, because I of Egypt. He said, ’God gave us the right to
didn’t want them standing there talking to punish the Egyptians and use any of God’s
me if the enemy forces were going to attack, weapons. We threw lightning bolts at them.
but they told me that they had already fin- We pulled the wheels off their carts.’ He
ished the job. didn’t actually say it was fun, but he did say
”I asked Gabriel then what it takes to get this event was fixed in his mind because of
the Holy Spirit to send out these forces to the great deliverance of Israel when the sea
help people. Was it in answer to a prayer for was pushed back. Chrioni said that the an-
help? gels had orders to intervene, but not to inter-
”Gabriel said, ’No, if the Spirit waited until fere with what God was doing in man’s nor-
you knew about an attack, you’d already be mal course of life.” (Author’s note by Sharon
in trouble! Twenty -four hours a day divine White: The full account of my father’s con-
forces are on the job scattering the forces of versation with Chrioni is related in Angels on
the enemy in response to the Holy Spirit’s Assignment, Chapter 3)
105
”Gabriel then shared with me that God has me and pick me up. Then I am strong again.
four different kinds of angels. There are min- After they have gone there is such a tingling
istering angels who live among the people. sensation in my legs that for some time after-
They ride in our cars, live in our homes, and ward I do deep knee bends and run in place
are camped about us all the time. Their or- because there is such power it is hard to han-
ders from God are to take care of us. They dle in these earthen vessels. Michael is the
look exactly like a human being. The only archangel of all the warring angels.
way you would know them would be if they ”Then there are the special forces which in-
disappeared in front of your eyes, or if you clude the messenger angels God uses to bring
saw them do some super-human feat. There announcements and messages to the world.
are more of these on the earth than there are They also work in various ways in the un-
human beings. Since they do not dwell in folding of God’s plan. The messenger angels
heaven, they do not have the glow that em- also dwell in the presence of God, and glow
anates from the angels who live in heaven. with that special heavenly radiance.
”The next group of angels are the worship ”Gabriel is the archangel of the messenger
angels. Their function is to worship Jesus. angels and his chief purpose is in the un-
When I was taken to heaven I saw these an- folding of God’s plan, and in the closing of
gels in action, and it was one of the most one chapter of time, and the opening of an-
beautiful sights I have ever seen. These are other. Every time he has been referred to in
the only angels with wings. There are six the Bible he has brought announcements of
wings, however, they don’t really look like a new day dawning. After he told me what
wings because they are filmy material. The his function was, it made me wonder what he
worship angels put two wings over their faces is doing down here now? Could it be that
as they bow down. There are two more that another chapter is about ready to close and
drape around their feet like a bride’s train, another one open?
and two short ones on their back. The cheru- ”After Gabriel had finished telling me
bim and seraphim are a very high order of about the angels, he said that the highest and
these worship angels, but they have the same greatest divine being, One far above the an-
type of wings and the same function. Lucifer gels, the highest in all the courts of heaven
was the archangel of the worship angels be- is Jesus. At the name of Jesus ringing thru
fore his fall. heaven, every angel, regardless of their rank
”The third type are the great warring an- falls in worship before Him.
gels. These angels come from the presence ”I asked Gabriel about Jesus’ return. He
of God and therefore a strong glow radiates told me that the Father had given him access
from their skin and clothing. I never get used to all of the things in God’s timeline but this
to their presence although I am not afraid. was one thing that the Father kept to himself.
The heavenly radiation from them saps my But he said, ’I can tell you this. There is
strength, and I start to fall until they touch more excitement and activity in the courts of
106 CHAPTER 21. MORE ABOUT ANGELS
heaven than there has been at any time since went down. There in my living room I saw
Jesus came the first time!’ the great warring angel, Chrioni, and three
”It was very interesting to me to note that other ’General angels,’ if you can use that
the angels did not always wear the same garb. term, or ’Captains’ of the hosts of heaven. I
All their shoes are the same, however, they could hear them receiving messages from the
look like they are made out of copper or Holy Spirit and sending out commands.
metal. When I watch them flex their shoes, ”Gabriel met me at the foot of the stairs,
I know that they could not be metal because and took me into my family room. He told
the shoes are of a very, very flexible sub- me that because of what God was doing thru
stance. me, the princes of darkness had been gath-
”The bone structure of the eyebrows of the ered together and brought to this area for
angels who live in heaven seems to be a little this particular time to try to delay and hin-
bit higher and more arched than those of a der the work of God. He said the Holy Spirit
human being. Their eyes seem not colored knew the way the enemy is working because
red like fire, they are dark, but they seem he knows he has only a short time left. God
almost like rays. They are penetrating and to had therefore sent Michael to my home that
look at them is almost like looking into a pool morning. I had never seen Michael before,
of fire. It’s not scary because you can almost but Gabriel introduced me to him.
feel their compassion as they are looking at ”Michael’s countenance was more fierce
you. They do not look inhuman. I have never than Gabriel’s, however, I could still sense the
seen a bearded angel that dwells in heaven. compassion and love and the nature of Jesus
Age wise, they look like young men twenty- in him. He had strong, chiseled features. His
five to thirty. Michael looks about forty. eyes were like pools of fire. He was dressed
”The ministering angels I have seen look like Gabriel with a white tunic and a wide
just like human beings, as I said before. The gold belt around his waist. The tunic had
worships angels look like a broad variety of kind of a gold embroidery on it. His hands
people, men, women, boys and girls, even and arms were like someone with a deep tan,
some that look like small children. almost like burnished brass.
”About two o’clock one Monday morning, ”Gabriel reminded me of the story in the
I saw one of the most awesome sights I have Old Testament in Daniel 10, where Gabriel
ever seen. Every time God has revealed him- was delayed in bringing an answer to Daniel
self thru the angels, it has been tremendous, from the Lord by the prince of darkness, so
but this seemed to be still more staggering God sent Michael to help Gabriel, and he has
because I felt the tremendous importance of such power that it only took him to scatter
what God is doing today in using Boise as the enemy so that the message could get thru.
a touchdown point for his divine messengers, ”There was a real spiritual battle going
and sharing with me a message for the world. on, and the command post was in my living
”I had heard something downstairs, so I room! But Gabriel assured me that God had
107
sent Michael and his angels, and they were ture of God for even one believer to go thru
literally surrounding our place.” even one day of the Great Tribulation time!
(Sharon: I would like to insert here that Totally contrary!
I use to be fearful when threats would come ”I will never forget an early morning hour
against my dad. I remember driving down in my family room when the giant warrior an-
the lane to his house one Monday evening, gel, Chrioni, was given permission by God to
walking into the house with my husband, and speak with me again. One of the things he
absolutely getting goose bumps. I had never told me was that ’Man will never fully com-
felt such a tremendous presence of God in prehend the love of God!’ He said that many
that place before. I told my husband later as of the people he and his hosts had been sent
we were driving home, ”Alan, I know that the by the Spirit to help, had defied God. They
angels were there tonight!” Alan agreed with had shaken their fist in God’s face, and were
me. He had felt the supernatural presence of filled with lawlessness and evil. Many were
God, too. The next day I asked my father if in satanism and witchcraft. They were God’s
the angels had visited him the night before. enemies. But God said, ’Those people need
It was then he shared with me that Michael help. Go and help them!’
the great archangel had been sent by the Fa- ”What can separate us from the love of
ther in the early hours of the morning the day God? We did nothing to earn it. So even if
before, and had set up protection around my you are completely away from God and sen-
father. The fear that had been generated in tenced to hell because you haven’t accepted
my heart by the threats against daddy totally Him, His love reaches out, and He says, ’I
disappeared. I knew my father was protected want you! I have room for you!’
by heaven’s most powerful warring angel, as ”I see God now, like I have never seen Him
God’s plan thru my father, continued to un- before, and I feel that one of the purposes of
fold.) these experiences has been for me to see God
”On two different occasions I have been like He really is!
told that God’s plan before He ever made the ”I have been asked by people if I was per-
earth was to take us to be with Him. Gabriel mitted to ask an angel to talk to God in my
made this statement that although people fail behalf, or to convey a message thru the angels
to agree as to whether they go thru the Great to someone in heaven. I probably could ask,
Tribulation, thru half of it, or are raptured but I seem to be tongue-tied as far as asking
before, or don’t believe in the Great Tribu- very many questions are concerned. But God
lation at all, when Jesus comes, He is not has given everyone of us an access to Himself
going to look in people’s minds to see what thru Jesus! He doesn’t ask us to go thru an
position they hold on this. He’s just going to angel.
look in their hearts to see if He’s living in- ”I have also received a lot of letters from
side. Gabriel went on to say that it would people asking me if it would be all right, or
be totally contrary to the character and na- would they be violating the Lord in seeking
108 CHAPTER 21. MORE ABOUT ANGELS
What is it like to be in the same family with across to anyone as a pious person. He was
a man who has actually talked with the angel himself, and felt responsible to God and not
of the Lord, Gabriel, and Michael, the great to man for his ministry.
archangel? A man who has talked face to face After having been a pastor for nearly thirty
with Jesus? My dad was a wonderful man, years in Boise, the people in the congregation
but he was very human. In fact the closer he had so many beautiful things to say about
got to heaven, the more his humanity seemed this man who was my father, it almost over-
in evidence. He still loved to watch boxing, whelmed me. I would like to share some of
and we all used to smile watching our father the thoughts about him from his congrega-
enjoying boxing matches on TV. He would tion.
unconsciously jab and duck with the boxers Over and over again people mentioned his
in the ring. He enjoyed a good game of golf, steadfastness, his terrific sense of humor, his
although his busy schedule made it increas- compassion, his faith.
ingly difficult to play. He loved sports on TV, From several young people: ”He was my
especially football. Dad was very competitive friend and pastor. His love and concern were
and hated losing any kind of game, especially as real as the love of my own father. When
to his kids. Our family would joyously and I expressed skepticism about the angelic vis-
loudly ”argue’ different points of games with itations, he refused to argue or defend; he
dad, knowing that we could never win the just told me to keep my eyes on Jesus, and
argument. never became cold toward me because I had
Toward the last, mom was alone a lot be- doubted.”
cause of the urgency he felt to share the mes- ”A deep voice behind me said, ”Have you
sage God had given him. But even with his ever been baptized in 7-Up?” That was the
incredible schedule, they always had a lot first time I met Pastor Buck. Although God
of fun together, and were truly sweethearts. was so evidently at work in his life in such an
Dad was a relaxed Christian, who knew that extraordinary way, he always enjoyed a good
God loved him as he was. He did not come laugh.”
109
110 CHAPTER 22. GOD CALLED HIM PASTOR
From a day-care worker: ”The word ’pas- have any answers, but I know Someone who
tor’ is just a six-letter word until it is used in does!’ My life was changed and my marriage
front of a godly man’s name. Pastor Roland put back together.”
Buck was this kind of man. He always had From a homosexual, one of many who
time for you, and he always said, ’God cares found total deliverance as my father prayed:
for people.’ I’m proud he was my pastor.” ”As he prayed for me, I felt the power of God
From his associate pastors: ”He was a man go through me so strongly, I couldn’t move.
of high integrity, quick to respond when you Then I felt as though heavy chains had fallen
were hurting, and sensitive to your feelings. off, chains I hadn’t even been aware of. I
He was a man ready to forgive and not too was and am a brand new person. In Pas-
proud to ask forgiveness when the occasion tor Buck’s eyes as well as God’s, I am not
arose.” an ex-homosexual, but a first-class citizen of
”When I had to make a decision about the kingdom, made as though I had never
marriage that broke my heart, pastor put his sinned.”
arm around my shoulder and told God, ’Fa- I realize that there are a lot of congrega-
ther, he’s just like a son to me. Please let tions who have beautiful pastors and who love
me carry some of the burden of sorrow that them just as much as this congregation loved
he is carrying, please let me help bear this daddy, but I maintain that there was some-
load.’ When I opened my eyes, big tears were thing special about him.
streaming down his cheeks. This love and The next glimpse into my father’s ministry
concern gave me a new picture of how God confirms that very special uniqueness.
can use a willing vessel to bring His care to A young couple with several children vis-
people.” ited the church and when they heard the
”He took the words, ’I can’t’ out of my beautiful message of reconciliation, their
vocabulary and replaced it with ’I can, I can, hearts responded. They made an appoint-
I can!’ He was the man most consistent in ment with my dad and accepted Jesus in his
life and words that I ever met. He made God office. They told him that they had been liv-
bigger to me than I had ever seen Him.” ing together and shared with him the desire
A member for twenty-seven years: ”He of their heart. He was absolutely delighted,
taught us to be steady and sure, and to walk and the very next Sunday night, my father
with confidence in God’s love. He stayed on a entered the baptismal and told of the simple
steady course, never given to religious fads or faith of this young couple. They had asked
new doctrines that sprang up in some areas.” him to marry them, dedicate their two chil-
From a marriage that was saved: ”I called dren, and then be baptized themselves. So
that ’Preacher Buck’ at eleven o’clock at standing in the baptismal, daddy did just
night. He didn’t know me, but he told me that. The glow of God’s glory flooded the
to meet him at his office right away. He lis- sanctuary, and you know, I think if we could
tened to me, and then he told me, ’I don’t have peeked into the throne room, we would
111
Not Guilty
I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that sibility. The truths He has revealed must be
God had definitely spoken to me about writ- of tremendous importance to God to bring
ing this book about my father, but it wasn’t them by such extraordinary means.
until I began to go thru his personal jour- ”Again last Sunday, Gabriel and Chrioni
nal that I fully realized the responsibility the came, this time dressed in the brightest gar-
Lord had given me. ments I have ever seen. The material looked
Daddy started keeping a personal journal like spun gold. This was the first time I
describing the angelic visitations soon after had seen Chrioni in anything other than his
they began in June, 1978. As I read the awe- warring outfit. They directed me to the
inspiring accounts of these divine visits, my back yard where their brightness cast a dim,
heart was thrilled. Then I saw why I was golden glow on the grass and water. I was
to write this book. In almost every account, spellbound.
the command is given by God thru the angel, ”Sometime they may tell me why they were
”Give this message to the world!” dressed like that. Could there have been a
The next chapters are taken directly from festival in heaven? Or did one of their as-
my father’s journal just as he wrote them. signments call for celebration? Or does God
The following account of an angelic visita- possibly give them a choice of garments? In
tion is taken from my father’s journal, dated any case, it was breathtaking.
June 30, 1979: ”I was given another heavenly wafer and a
”As I muse over the way God has dealt drink of water by Gabriel. I burst out into
with me during this past year thru a constant a flowing praise and worship beyond my con-
awareness of His presence, and the daily re- trol.” (Sharon’s Note: From Angels on As-
minders of His love by the Spirit, and the signment, During a visit one night, Gabriel
frequent visits by angelic beings, I am over- said that God had sent a round wafer ap-
whelmed! I can’t help but feel a sense of awe proximately five inches in diameter and 5/8
and wonder. Also a very real sense of respon- inch thick, that looked like bread. He in-
113
114 CHAPTER 23. NOT GUILTY
structed me to eat it, so I did. It had the forever gone, and gives them peace.”
taste of honey. When I finished the bread,
he gave me a silver-like ladle filled with what
appeared to be water. I drank every drop of
it, and an overwhelming desire to praise and
worship God instantly came over me. Rivers
of praise billowed up to God, bubbling up
out of my innermost being, and for days af-
ter I drank this liquid, there was a sensation
of ”fizzing” inside of my veins. What an in-
describably pleasant and exhilarating feeling
it was! [Daddy told me that the silver ladle
was exquisite, with a beautiful design deeply
etched into its surface]). ”Again, a reaction
took place in my body. A strange vibration.
Charm felt it when she touched me. Instant
miracles happened during ministry to those
in need. This unique sensation lasted for sev-
eral days.
”The message he brought from God’s heart
was concerning God’s declaration that be-
cause of our acceptance of what Jesus has
done, we are NOT GUILTY! Not only be-
cause of destroyed records, but because of a
purged conscience (Hebrews 9:13,14: Under
the old system, the blood of goats and bulls
and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse
people’s bodies from ritual defilement. Just
think how much more the blood of Christ
will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to
death so that we can worship the living God.
For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ
offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice
for our sins. New Living Translation).
”He asked that believers make the same
declaration to God, to themselves, to Satan,
to others. Though their memories of guilt live
on, the account written in the conscience is
Chapter 24
The following account of an angelic visi- Because of your failure to recognize me and
tation is taken from daddy’s journal, dated walk in my ways, you have limited the Lord
April 29, 1979: your God, your lives have been restricted so
that you have not known the potential of your
”Early this morning I was awakened about life. As you make Him Lord of all, He will
2:10 AM by voices downstairs. I dressed and also be Lord of what you can be, not only of
went down, and as I suspected, Gabriel and what you are (Exodus 31:1-6). Money and its
his great companion were there. I will never power belong to the one who directs the use
get accustomed to the penetrating radiation of it. Those who possess it. It is not a force
that beams from them. Again, they had to apart from the one who controls it, Satan or
restore my strength by their words and touch. God.”
What an exciting message from God’s heart
they had for me. After a few words of com- ”As Terry Law was concerned about his fu-
fort, Gabriel seemed to speak direct words ture and the seeming peril of his work in dark-
from God in the first person. ’The Lord ened countries, he asked if I was permitted to
speaks now to you. All your life forces are enquire of God concerning these things. Nor-
in me. Your drives, your talents, your skills, mally, questions seem so trivial to ask, but
as you commit yourself, wholly, even your po- God somehow let me know that it was all
tential springs from me. Bring these words to right. Here’s His answer. ”Terry Law has
the world. I have loved you, cared for you, been chosen and prepared by God for a very
yes, I have planned your steps, and when special work, that of being in the forefront
you would yield, have directed your path. of His work in penetrating darkened coun-
Your successes come from me, your wealth tries with His life-giving light. The Father
has come from my hand. Your creative skills, has interwoven a demanding urgency into all
your abilities to succeed are because of me. areas of his life. He has placed within him a
115
116 CHAPTER 24. TERRY LAW - THE CUTTING EDGE OF EVANGELISM
persistence that refuses denial and a courage dates, so Pastor Buck asked me to take over
that accepts no defeat. God has opened to the conference as speaker.
him long-closed doors, and has accompanied ”After the service, Pastor Buck drove me
him by His Spirit. He is a chosen messen- back to the Rodeway Inn. It was a dark,
ger. The Father has given him guidance and gloomy, rainy night. I remember sitting in
protection. He has provided for him in ways his big brown Lincoln, and he began to tell
he has not known, by His Spirit, by men and me about his visit to the throne room. At
by angels of the Lord. Though many have that time he hadn’t as yet had any angelic
had a part in the preparing of this life, the visits.
turning point came as a young man under ”He shared with me that when he came
the Spirit-directed ministry of one of God’s back from his visit to God’s throne room,
friends, Dwight McLoughlin.” he was still holding the piece of paper God
Terry read from my dad’s journal words had given him with the list of 120 events that
used by God spoken through an angelic mes- would happen either in his ministry, or in the
senger to describe him, and his eyes filled world situation. He told me that some of the
with tears. It was overwhelming to see in events on that list had already come to pass.
writing what God had to say about him. ”I was so taken aback by this, that I didn’t
Alan and I were in Terry’s hotel room. tell anyone, not even the members of Living
He had just flown in from Warsaw, Poland, Sound. The next night, pastor had supper
for services here at Central Assembly. I had with Joel Vasenen, the leader of the group,
asked if I could interview him for this book and myself. We sat there with our eyes bug-
because his name appeared in dad’s journal, ging out because we had never heard any-
and also because of the involvement of our thing like this in our entire lives.
church in the ministry of Living Sound. ”I was invited back to Boise in 1978 with
Alan and I spent an exciting two hours Living Sound to appear with Little Richard
with Terry, as he shared with us confirmation in an ”Up With Jesus” crusade in the football
of a tremendous breakthrough in his ministry stadium. This time pastor began to outline
with Living Sound, as dad had said would for me some of the amazing things from his
happen in the fall of 1979. We had just con- private conversation with the angels.
cluded our session when Terry read for him- ”Visiting the throne room is one thing, but
self what God had said. talking to Gabriel is another. One of the
Terry had many things to share, and Alan things that the angel had said to him was
and I felt the blessing of the Lord so much that he and the church were going to have a
as we talked, that here in essence, in Terry’s direct ministry in the Soviet Union. Central
own words, is our interview: Assembly raised the finances for us at that
”I first met your dad in 1977 in a Mission’s time for our first Russian ministry. I flew di-
Convention here. Murray McCleese had been rectly from Boise to Helsinki, Finland, and
booked to speak but there was a conflict of our team went into Russia for the first time.
117
Pastor Buck considered that to be a fulfill- showed me the notation from 1977 when God
ment of one of the 120 items revealed to him. took him to His throne room, and the name
”In 1978 I was here twice, and during these of the pope was number 113 on the list of
times pastor began to tell me the message of events.
Gabriel, about the home, the atonement, and ”In 1980 Living Sound and I were invited
the importance of the blood. to an audience with the pope and had the
”I did like Mary in the New Testament opportunity to present a concert in St. Peters
where it says ’Mary heard all these things, Square.
and pondered them in her heart.’ That’s ex- ”The thing that shook me up the most re-
actly what I did. garding pastor’s angelic visitations happened
” Pastor Buck also told me that Living 1979. I had flown directly to Boise from Aus-
Sound was going to have a relationship with tralia in April. Gordon Calmeyer was with
the Roman Catholic Church. This was be- me on that tour with Living Sound team I.
fore the election of Pope John Paul II. We al- Gordon is the kind of person who says what
ready had a relationship because of our min- he thinks. I had not shared with him a lot
istry throughout Poland in 1976 with crowds about pastor’s visitations, because I had con-
up to 250,000 people. But Pastor Buck indi- tinued to ponder them in my heart.
cated to me that we were going to have a more ”We were once again at the Rodeway Inn in
intense relationship with the Roman Catholic the dining room. Pastor had shared with us
Church. I listened to what he said but didn’t for a while, when Gordon said, ’If the angels
realize at that time that he had already been have said certain things about Living Sound
told by the Lord the name of the pope who and our relationship to your church already,
would be elected. The Lord told him that next time they come, why don’t you ask them
this pope would be responsible for bringing about the future of Living Sound?’ I looked
unity to the fragment body of Christ, which at Gordon in shock and said, ’Gordon, you
by the way, is the primary goal of the present don’t ask angels things like that!’ Pastor
pope. He, more than any other pope before Buck just looked pensive for a moment as
him, has been accentuating the importance though he were thinking, and then he said,
of bringing the entire church together. ’Well, they can only say what the Lord has
”The introduction of Karol Wojtyla as told them to say, but perhaps God will let
pope in October literally blew me away be- me talk with them about Living Sound’s min-
cause we knew him and had been in his home, istry.’
he had talked with the group and loved the ”We dropped the subject and went on to
music. He even has our albums in the Vati- something else. Later on in 1979 pastor had
can. I phoned Pastor Buck right after Karol an appointment to be on the PTL Club. I was
had been elected, and he told me that he had going to be there that same week anyway, so
known before hand. I remember sitting on a they phoned me and asked me to appear with
plane with him and he opened his diary and him, I had a good time with him the night
118 CHAPTER 24. TERRY LAW - THE CUTTING EDGE OF EVANGELISM
before we appeared on the show, but I hadn’t on me and began to pray. As he prayed the
had a chance to talk with him alone. The day Spirit of Prophecy came upon him, and he be-
of the program, I went into the makeup room gan to say things that shocked the daylights
and Paul Olson was there as co-host. Other out of me.
than Paul, we were alone for the first time. ”He said, ’Young man, I see you standing
”Pastor looked at me and said, ’Terry, does before tens of thousands of people proclaim-
the name Dwight McLoughlin mean anything ing the gospel all over the world. I see a min-
to you?’ My eyes opened wide, and I said, istry to your generation that is going to be
’Yes it does. Why do you ask?’ Then I said, totally unprecedented in the history of the
’Oh, no, you’ve been talking to the angels!’ church thus far.’
He just nodded his head. I asked him, ”What ”I began to tremble as the power of the
on earth did the angels say?’ He said, ’Do you Holy Spirit came on me. I knew I was hearing
remember a time when you were a young man from God and yet it was a little bit more than
and received a call to the ministry?’ I was my thirteen-year-old-mind could take in.
dumbstruck. I didn’t want to say anything. ”The next night Dwight McLoughlin called
My mouth was hanging open. Pastor didn’t me up to the platform and announced to the
go into that much detail except that he knew entire audience of about 1500 people what I
what had happened. was going to do and be. He asked me to say
”From my standpoint, what happened was something to the people, but I was hardly
that I was a thirteen-year-old boy. My par- able to speak.
ents were pastoring an Assembly of God ”I had almost forgotten the whole event.
church in Mount Vernon, a little town in It was always in my subconscious, I’m sure,
British Columbia. I had gone to a camp but when I walked into PTL and Pastor Buck
meeting that summer on Vancouver Island. mentioned that incident, I was absolutely
I had been deeply moved upon by the Holy overwhelmed.
Spirit in the service that night. When ev- ”Pastor had been allowed to ask about Liv-
erybody else left the old tabernacle with the ing Sound when the angels came to visit, but
sawdust floor, the lights were turned off, and the answer hadn’t come back about the Liv-
I was just sitting in the darkness praying. ing Sound. It had come back about me.
”The camp evangelist, who was Dwight ”The angel told pastor that before I was
McLoughlin, had left his Bible on the pul- ever born God had a specific plan for my life,
pit and had come back to find it. He didn’t and an outreach that only I was going to be
know how to turn on the light, and was just able to accomplish. In other words, there was
trying to get to the pulpit. a sovereign call on Terry Law, that was dis-
”All of a sudden out of darkness he called, tinctly for me.
’Is anybody here?’ I said, ’Yes.’ He felt a ”Gabriel told Pastor Buck to tell me that
sudden urge in the Spirit and walked down the struggles in my young life were ordained
the pew to where I was seated, laid his hands and planned by God to get me ready for the
119
This is the account of daddy’s last visita- get accustomed to their presence.
tion (October 13, 1979) by the angels before ”They were talking with me and gave me
his death. The following is edited from the some beautiful truths about God’s concern
tape as he shared it with his congregation for the total person. Even our humanity is
Sunday morning, October 14, 1979. really a concern of God.
”I had an unusual experience that made ”Then the telephone rang. I let it ring for a
me think about how much God cares for the few minutes, because I hated to be bothered
individual. It has been about six weeks since with menial things like that while Gabriel was
I’ve had a visitation from the angels. If they standing right there. I finally picked up the
never come again, I’ve had a greater experi- receiver, however, and it was a little lady from
ence than I ever deserved and the truths that Sacramento. Her first question was, ’Have
God has made real have accomplished some- you seen any of them angels lately?’
thing so terrific. I feel like God has possibly ”Then she told me that she had some
given me all that I needed in the illumination needs, ’I’ve asked preachers to pray for me.
of these messages, because God has given so I’ve asked friends to pray for me. Nobody
many ways that He speaks. He speaks thru seems to know how to get hold of God for me,
His Word, He uses human beings as agents and I don’t even know if God knows about
to answer needs, and He uses circumstances. me. I’m seventy-nine years old and my hus-
Anyway, I never know from one time to the band is sick. Would you, the next time you
next whether or not it will be the last visit. see one of those angels, ask them to tell God
”Last night in my office, I found out that that I really need some help?
the visit six weeks ago wasn’t the last one, be- ”I said to her, ’Well, they’re in here right
cause Gabriel and Chrioni came in. My head now!’
was down, and I was doing some meditating, ”She choked a little bit, so I said, ’Do you
and looking at the Scripture. They came in want me to ask them? That isn’t really their
just like those people on the television series, work, because you have the same kind of con-
”Star Trek.” I was breathless because I never nection as they do to God.’
121
122 CHAPTER 25. GOD KNOWS YOUR NAME
”I am a hillbilly from Africa, and I’m here Bwana Tembo, A Prince With God. Bwana
to see Pastor Buck the man who wrote the an- Tembo is Morris’s African nickname meaning
gel book!” I looked up to see who was speak- ”Lord Elephant.”
ing. He was very tall man with a beret on his The following is from my dad’s journal in
head, a green plaid coat, and a yellow and which he kept the record of the angelic visi-
red striped shirt. He had the biggest feet I tations.
had ever seen. They were size 16. ”I’m Mor-
”Early Sunday morning, July 29, I felt the
ris Plotts,” the man continued picking up his
warm presence of the Holy Spirit in my room.
big black suitcase which was covered with col-
I obeyed the urge to dress and go down-
orful travel sticker. I wasn’t quite sure how
stairs for worship and meditation. Following
to take this unusual looking ”hillbilly,” but I
a season of precious fellowship with God, I
fell in love with the twinkle in his eyes, and I
looked up to see God’s messengers, Gabriel
led him to meet my father.
and Chrioni appearing in the room. Again
There was an immediate rapport between I was overwhelmed by the divine glow and
the two men. Alan and I and our kids were the holy atmosphere that surrounds them.
excited when mom invited us to join them for They both took hold of my hands and I was
dinner because as it turned out Morris shared strengthened.
with the family some of the wondrous ways ”I was allowed again to behold the majesty
God had led him thru the years. One spe- of God. I saw Him in action caring for all
cial highlight he shared was how twenty black creation, even the grass of the field. I saw
African angels had helped him and his wife him caring for the animals. I saw reminders
when their Land Rover was mired in deep, of Him in the clouds, lightning, and wind. I
sticky African mud 200 miles from any known saw Him and His great love for man, even
civilization. The story of Morris Plott’s life those who have never know Him. This living
is told in a book by Robert Paul Lamb and panorama of truth is still alive in my mind.
published by Jimmy Swaggart. It is entitled, Oh, how Great Thou art, Oh, how much you
123
124 CHAPTER 26. MORRIS PLOTTS, A PRINCE WITH GOD
istering angel had visited him. He told Ben- Morris states: ”Never, since I began
jamin what the angel had said about minis- preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus fifty-
tering to a family on the coast of Kenya in six years ago, have I seen such hunger for God
the town of Msambweni. Benjamin began to as I find in Africa today. A missions research
really get excited, and asked Morris to give organization finds that 16,000 people a day
dates and places. When Morris told him, are turning to Christ in Africa!
Benjamin was overjoyed. As Morris, Louie The following excerpt of a letter from Mor-
and Pamela listened with wonder, Benjamin ris Plotts is an exciting confirmation of the
told Morris how that so many good things ministry of angels in Africa as shared with
had been happening to him and his wife he Pastor Buck by the angel Gabriel.
could hardly believe it. Seemingly out of the ”Then while in the coastal area, I went
clear blue sky he had received a promotion, down to Msambweni, the town the angel
the town had gone through many government talked to your dear husband about. We sowed
officials, but although Benjamin was a Chris- the place down with New Testaments in their
tian, he had been able to carry out his gov- own language. It has a population of 10,000
ernment responsibilities very smoothly. He Mohammedans and I received a letter today
hadn’t been able to understand this before! from Dave Smith, our missionary there, and
Benjamin said, ”Oh, my wife must hear they are planning to start a work there all
about this!” In the late afternoon, Morris, because the angel of God visited my beloved
Louie and Pamela drove to the Mungai’s friend, Roland Buck. If you would be so kind
home to tell the news to Benjamin’s wife. as to do so, I would thank you to ask the
As Morris stepped into their yard he had to church to pray that the hundreds of New Tes-
pause for a moment in awe. The angel had taments we place in the hands of these poor
told Pastor Buck that he had been in a home benighted people will prepare the way for a
on the south coast of Kenya and this home great move of God there. They were so ea-
was so close to the coast, the waves of the ger for the New Testaments, and to see them
Indian Ocean were lapping the rocks in the standing in the market and in their yards
front yard. with the New Testaments open and reading
Morris shared the story with Benjamin’s about the Redeemer from Heaven ... well, I
wife, and she sat entranced. Benjamin said, will never forget that sight. When we were
”All right, this is the first step, now what is there, Dave Smith took my picture standing
next?” He then told Morris that there was a by the big sign with his little boy and two
building right down the road he could have African pastors on the edge of town. The
for meetings. town itself is in the coconut grove about a
Morris couldn’t accept the invitation at quarter of a mile away. This is the town that
that time, but he is going back March 15, was not on any road map you know. I am
1981, and packing a New Testament, written sending this to you to keep. I have one that I
in Swahili, for every home in Msambweni. will prize and how I wish I could have shown
126 CHAPTER 26. MORRIS PLOTTS, A PRINCE WITH GOD
it to Roland.
Chapter 27
One of the things on the list of 120 events take you down there because God is in this.”
that were on the parchment that dad brought Daddy really got excited until he realized
back with him from the throne room was that it was impossible for him to go because
a ministry in the Philippines. God miracu- of his heavy schedule. That night he tossed
lously worked this ministry out without my and turned in his bed. It was hot and sticky
father pulling a single string trying to help in that place, and very difficult to sleep. Be-
God out. The complete story of the Mission sides that, he kept thinking that he had re-
Philippines is told in Angels on Assignment. ally muffed it in allowing his schedule to be
I want to share a part of the story that so tight. He pulled the sheets up in a big
is very special to me, because it shows the old knot, as he wrestled with this problem.
great love and compassion my father had for About two o’clock in the morning, he finally
people. went to sleep.
When he arrived in the Philippines, he (I love this part!) About four in the morn-
found that his time there had been very ing, the light came on in his room, and he
tightly scheduled. On the Monday after he opened his eyes. Sitting on the other bed in
arrived he met with one medical doctor, a the room were Gabriel and Chrioni. Daddy
college professor, and two pilots. They had was so sleepy he said, ”How did you find me
just returned from Mindanao where there is here?”
a tribe which had been discovered just a Gabriel told dad that God wanted him to
year and a half previously. They were far mingle with these people so they could get a
back in the jungles, and while this group had good grip on this message and take it back
been there, the professor was able to put to- to their area. This made daddy feel bet-
gether some type of a communication bridge ter, and then Gabriel said, ”The reason we
to them. Daddy explained to them that God have come is that God has sensed the con-
had sent him to the Philippines, and they cern in your heart about your schedule. He
said, ”We came here for a rest, but we don’t wants us to tell you not to be concerned about
need it. Let’s go back tomorrow. We want to your schedule, because it is so ordered and ar-
127
128 CHAPTER 27. THE ALASKA ENCOUNTER
ranged that every person who meets with you pines that when he went to minister in Alaska
has been personally selected by God to hear Gabriel also found him there.
what you have to say. The following is the thrilling account of his
This really relieved the pressure for my dad Alaska encounter, in his own words, as he told
and he began to walk the streets and mingle it to our congregation.
with the people during the day, knowing that ”Early in the morning in Ketchikan, I
he was right in the middle of where God had heard the familiar voice of Gabriel. He told
placed him. me not to get up, but to just go ahead and
He saw a lady in the marketplace who was lie there. I’m sure he knew I really needed
crying and crying, and thru an interpreter, the rest. I hadn’t slept over three hours any
who just happened to start walking with him, night while I was in Alaska, because of the
asked her what was the matter. She said, tremendous surge of interest by the people,
that it was not important. Daddy told her as we shared together following the services
that anything that was important to her was The presence of God would be so close each
important to God. The he prayed for her. morning I would get up in the early hours to
As she lifted her head, it looked like the sun just worship Him.
had come out in her face. She said, ”Are you ”The pastor’s wife in Ketchikan was an In-
Jesus?” Daddy told her, ”No, but I am His dian lady. She had seemed very happy as we
representative!” visited around the table and in the home, but
He told me about a little old lady who was Gabriel said, ’I want you to bring a message
carrying a heavy load. He had been told that to this pastor’s wife. Tell her she is very spe-
in this culture men never carry loads for the cial to God. She has a poor image of herself.
women, but daddy just couldn’t stand to see She thinks she’s worthless. She thinks that
her struggling along, so he took her heavy she’s not accepted like she ought to be, be-
bundle and carried it for her. Word began cause of her race, but tell her God loves her,
to get around about this man who cared so and God has put her right where she belongs.
much about people, and soon, everywhere Tell her she is special!’
daddy went, as he walked thru the streets of ”I could hardly wait to give her this mes-
the city, people followed him. He would stop sage, but she didn’t get up before I had to
and simply share with them the Good News. leave to catch my plane that morning. So, I
Many people were healed as they stood lis- told her husband. He told me that his wife
tening to him. Blind eyes were opened, deaf needed this more than anything. I would
ears could hear, and the lame walked. have loved to have been a little mouse in the
Before he left the city in the Philippines, corner when he told her how God felt about
the mayor of the city honored him with a spe- her!” (Sharon’s note: Two years later while I
cial medallion. was compiling this book, I called this pastor’s
It didn’t surprise me, after he told me these wife to hear in her own words her reaction to
beautiful stories of God’s care in the Philip- this personal message from God. She told me
129
she had been going thru a tremendous crisis meet sometime soon, who God was going to
time in her life .. she really needed to know use in a very special way. He told me that this
at that time God cared for her personally.) had been a very stimulating conversation. He
”That morning, Gabriel also told me the asked me my name and I told him. Then he
name of a man God would use in a way of told me his name ... John Sandor. When I
spreading these truths in areas I would never let him know that his name was the one God
be able to touch. God prepares people long had given me, he was really surprised. He
before they ever know Him. Gabriel did not told me that he never thought God would be
say whether this man knew God or not, he interested like this in him.”
just gave me his name, John Sandor. I wrote (Sharon’s note: I decided to try to give
it down on my checkbook. John Sandor a call. Sure enough, he was in
”Later when I got on the place to fly home, forestry in Juneau, Alaska, and he remem-
I was really interested to see who would sit bered this meeting with my dad very well. He
by me on the plane, just in case it might be told me that it was very strange, because he
the right one. So when a man came and sat doesn’t talk with fellow passengers, as he is
down, I thought, ”I wonder if this could be usually engrossed in paperwork. He told me
the guy.” I was a little disappointed when he when he told my father his name, he acted
pulled out some papers, and I saw a name like he recognized it. This seemed odd to
written quite large on them, and it wasn’t John, because his name is not a common one.
John Sandor. I decided, however, that since Then my dad shared with him that God had
he was sitting here God must have a reason, given him his name thru an angelic messen-
so I would tell him about the Lord anyway. ger, and there was more to their meeting than
”I asked him, ’Would you be amazed or appeared on the surface. John Sandor told
would it throw you if somebody told you that me this encounter with the supernatural had
angels are appearing in the world today?’ I given him a strong reinforcement of God’s
went on to tell him the reason I was in Alaska care for the individual and that he could com-
was to bring the message that the angels had municate with Him on a personal level.)
given me to share. He put his paper down, ”Gabriel then began to share with me some
and listened very carefully to what I had to further illumination about this message he
say I told him how the Lord had given me had been bringing, and why the sacrifice of
names of several people ahead of time, and Jesus was so important.
then I had met them on airplanes. He said, ”I hadn’t realized before how closely asso-
’That’s really amazing!’ ciated to the sacrifice of Christ, was the func-
”He then told me that he was in forestry tion and ministry of Gabriel. I knew from the
for Alaska, and that he knew the ins and outs Scriptures he had previously given me, that
and the little nooks and crannies of Alaska. he had been at Golgotha when Jesus died.
”We talked for a long time. I told him I also ”He built upon the point again, telling
had the name of a man that I was going to me the tremendous need that people have of
130 CHAPTER 27. THE ALASKA ENCOUNTER
hearing the message: God has taken care of years, standing in the presence of God, whose
everything, and all their sins are covered. position was above the altar in the Holy of
”He then went into a description of the peo- Holies. Because Gabriel dwells in the pres-
ple in the Old Testament, as given by Paul ence of God, when God moved into the Holy
in Hebrews 10:1-14. He was speaking about of Holies, Gabriel moved with Him. He was
the sacrifice for the atonement that had to unseen until he appeared to Zacharias in Luke
be made year after year. In those sacrifices, 1:8-12,19:
there was a remembrance made of sin every
year. (8 One day Zechariah was serving
”Gabriel then reminded me of when he God in the Temple, for his order
stood before Zacharias in Luke 1. This was an was on duty that week. 9 As was
example of the critical hour that took place the custom of the priests, he was
when the sacrifice for the year had come to an chosen by lot to enter the sanctu-
end, and the next one was going to be made. ary and burn incense in the Lord’s
”During the time between the sacrifices, presence. 10 While the incense was
when the covering had expired, the people being burned, a great crowd stood
of Israel stood naked, hopeless, and helpless outside, praying. 11 Zechariah was
before the eyes of the eternal God. All the in the sanctuary when an angel
charges against them were under review by of the Lord appeared, standing to
God. He saw their sins and their guilt as they the right of the incense altar. 12
were reviewed from year to year, and another Zechariah was overwhelmed with
year of probation had to be arranged. fear. 13 But the angel said, ”Don’t
be afraid, Zechariah! For God has
(Leviticus 23:27, 28 ”Remember
heard your prayer, and your wife,
that the Day of Atonement is to be
Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And
celebrated on the ninth day after the
you are to name him John. 14 You
Festival of Trumpets. On that day
will have great joy and gladness,
you must humble yourselves, gather
and many will rejoice with you at
for a sacred assembly, and present
his birth, 15 for he will be great in
offerings to the LORD by fire. 28
the eyes of the Lord. He must never
Do no work during that entire day
touch wine or hard liquor, and he
because it is the Day of Atonement,
will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
when atonement will be made for
even before his birth. F2 16 And
you before the LORD your God,
he will persuade many Israelites to
and payment will be made for your
turn to the Lord their God. 17
sins.”).
He will be a man with the spirit
”Then Gabriel told me that he was present and power of Elijah, the prophet
at every sacrifice for the atonement thru the of old. He will precede the com-
131
ing of the Lord, preparing the peo- Covenant. If he follows these in-
ple for his arrival. He will turn the structions, he will not die).
hearts of the fathers to their chil-
dren, and he will change disobedi- he would have died, as there was no cover-
ent minds to accept godly wisdom.” ing. Although he had prepared himself and
F3 18 Zechariah said to the angel, made himself as perfect as he could possi-
”How can I know this will happen? bly be made, he still could not perform his
I’m an old man now, and my wife is priestly duties without the covering. As the
also well along in years.” 19 Then priest fulfilled this obligation, the cloud arose
the angel said, ”I am Gabriel! I from the incense and covered him, and God
stand in the very presence of God. could again smile because the sins were cov-
It was he who sent me to bring you ered for another year. He smelled the sweet
this good news!). savor, and the stroke of His wrath struck the
incense instead of the priest.
”Gabriel said that the priest was offering ”God said to Gabriel, ’Gabriel, you can
up the incense, and the whole community was now appear in full view to Zacharias.’
standing and trembling on the outside. Their Zacharias looked and saw, standing at the
acceptance by God was based on the obser- right end of that altar, this giant angel. It
vance of certain rules. They were making scared him like it scared me. Gabriel didn’t
themselves acceptable during this interim pe- just walk in and stand there. He was present
riod, when the covering had ceased, and be- at every sacrifice thru the centuries.
fore God accepted the new sacrifice. All the ”Zacharias saw him and was troubled, fell,
people were praying outside because if some- and fear came upon him, but the angel said
thing would have happened and the priest unto him, ’Fear not, Zacharias, thy prayer is
had not thrown in the incense heard. I am Gabriel that stands in the pres-
ence of God, and I am sent to speak unto
(Leviticus 16:12,13 - 12 he will fill an thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.’
incense burner with burning coals Every time Gabriel has appeared with a mes-
from the altar that stands before the sage throughout the Word, it has been with
LORD. Then, after filling both his a message of ’good tidings.’ And God is al-
hands with fragrant incense, he will lowing him to be seen now, and it is still a
carry the burner and incense behind message of ’good tidings.’ The message is,
the inner curtain. 13 There in the ’The covering is complete!’
LORD’s presence, he will put the in- ”The festival of atonement in the Old Tes-
cense on the burning coals so that tament was a reminder that Israel’s probation
a cloud of incense will rise over the had expired, and that their covering must be
Ark’s cover – the place of atone- renewed. For this reason, man was given cer-
ment – that rests on the Ark of the tain guidelines based on complete obedience
132 CHAPTER 27. THE ALASKA ENCOUNTER
so that they would earn a reprieve during the as their leader and king.
time of exposure.
”What God wants to say to people now, Hebrews 10:16 ”This is the new
thru His divine messenger is this ... the sad covenant I will make with my peo-
thing that has happened in the lives of so ple on that day, says the Lord: I
many believers, is the feeling they are living, will put my laws in their hearts so
so to speak, in the hour between the sacri- they will understand them, and I
fices. And their acceptance by God is still will write them on their minds so
based on what they are able to earn by the they will obey them.”
completeness of their achievement. There- Those people place themselves in the same
fore, they are living in constant fear of mak- position under the blazing eye of God - open
ing a mistake in the eyes of God. and exposed - as those Israelites were so long
”God said in Hebrews 10:12-14, thru His ago, during the interim period between the
servant, Paul, ’This Man, after he had of- sacrifices. These people may look for other
fered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down ways to try to produce their own acceptance
on the right hand of God; From henceforth thru works, but there is no other way than
expecting till his enemies be made his foot- to say, ’Jesus, I must accept the sacrifice that
stool. For by one offering he hath perfected you made. I repent, and I am sorry for trying
forever them that are sanctified.’ The word to go my own way. I come back!’ Then the
sanctified means the sharing of His life. He cloud will cover them, and they can be at
has perfected forever those who share His life. peace again.
”I would like to share with you what ”This is the message that God wants the
Gabriel gave me about Jesus’ sacrifice. ’As world to hear today. He wants people to know
the fire of God’s judgment struck Him, who that the sacrifice is complete, and the cover-
was the sacrifice by the offering of himself, ing is still there. It went out both directions
a cloud ascended that covered all time and thru all the world, and then it moved thru
space. It was carried on the wings of grace time until it reached our day. It will move
until it stretched backward across the ages on, continuing to cover those who have placed
to the beginning of man erasing all of those their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, until the
charges that kept coming up every year. It end of time. Jesus made one sacrifice for sin
spread outward from Calvary across all ages forever. This is a message of hope for all peo-
to the end of time, completing a plan that was ple who want to live for God.”
formed in God’s heart before the world be-
gan, of making man acceptable in His sight.’
”Then Gabriel reminded me in a little
postscript about those who sin and remove
themselves from the covering thru open re-
bellion and idolatry in their rejection of God
Chapter 28
Face to Face
It was Monday morning, August 27. pact of this experience, but I’m going to read
Daddy once again made his way down the what I marked down, which is just a brief out-
hall to my office. With tears streaming down line of what happened. Again it portrays the
his cheeks he shared with me that the Sunday great love of God in a way that I never, ever
morning before, he had been taken to heaven witnessed, although God has been letting me
to see Jesus for the very first time. He was see each time, the greatness, the impact, and
still visibly shaken by this experience. He the weight, and the height, and the breadth
told me how he had been privileged to also of the love of God in ways that I hadn’t seen
meet with representative angels from every in the past.
nation on earth. It literally took my breath ”I’m going to read this just the way that
away to listen to these words coming from my I have written it in the book in which I keep
father’s lips. I said, ”Daddy, you have been these things. There are several things that
to a heavenly staff meeting!” I will not be able to tell you. I have them
The following Sunday he shared this awe- written, but I’ve had to put big parentheses
some visit with our congregation. The fol- around them because of the instructions not
lowing account is in my father’s own words, to share them as yet.
as he told of his first meeting with Jesus, face ”One of the most profound and inspiring
to face. encounters I have ever experienced occurred
”I mentioned last Sunday morning that I last Sunday morning, August 26, 1979. I was
had received a very unusual experience right awakened about 1 AM, and was ministered
from God. I’ve had many, many people ask to by God through angels he had sent. In
me if I would share it with the congregation, the course of this ministry, God allowed me
because you all feel like you have been made to witness again His great plan in operation
a part of what the Lord is doing. Last week for making us acceptable in His sight.
I was almost dazed for part of the day, be- ”Coming alive before me was the message
cause it was something so real and so awe- of Paul in Colossians 2:9-17, concerning the
some. I know that I cannot convey the im- greatness of Jesus. He is the head of all God’s
133
134 CHAPTER 28. FACE TO FACE
forces. I saw the believer not only sharing in ”He also spoke of the numberless hosts sent
His life, but in His accomplishment fulfilling into all the world to help prepare, and He
the law. His death, His resurrection is ours used this term, ’the precious fruit of the earth
because of our faith in God’s operation. I saw for the harvest, the redeemed souls that He
Him strip Satan of his authority and spoil has purchased and prepared.’
him, never restoring it. He clothes us with ”He then summoned representatives from
confidence, and forgives every sin. every part of the world. I saw some minis-
”Then something happened, and I was es- tering angels that had the appearance of Es-
corted into the presence of Jesus by these an- kimos, who were working in the Arctic Cir-
gels. I was literally translated into His pres- cle. I saw some from different spots in the
ence. Like Paul, I am not sure if I was in earth. Several of these I recognized as min-
body or spirit. It seemed like I was in body. istering angels I had previously met. There
I saw Jesus, met Him, talked with Him for was one from Russia, who has been in my
the first time face to face. His appearance home three times. I saw Shaloma, the angel
was identical to that described by John in God brought to me from the Arab countries.
Revelation 1:13-18. He appeared as the great I saw the ministering angels representing the
judge of all. It is possible He will take on a multi-billions of angels in Red China right
different appearance upon His return. What now. There were many black angels. They
I was allowed to see was His eternal appear- were from India, from the islands of the sea,
ance. His white hair hung to His shoulders. from all over. God has said that these were
His face shown like pure white light. He wore summoned from among the forces that have
a wide gold belt that was contoured to par- been sent out into every corner of the world
tially cover His chest. His shoes shown like and are preparing the harvest.
polished copper. His eyes were much like ”Jesus stated that His purpose for this
those of Gabriel. Could it be that their gar- meeting was to remind me, and to remind the
ments and this appearance is characteristic world, of the urgency and importance of link-
of those who dwell in God’s presence? My ing arms with Him and telling the world that
spirit leaped within me as He stated that His He really cares and telling the workers around
servants, these angels, had been sent forth to the world that they are not alone. There
compel men and women to come to the point are missionaries who feel like they’re working
of choice. He made reference to the words alone, but Jesus wants them to know there
that He himself had said ... that which His are workers sent forth with sickles ready to
angels said, ’there was still room.’ He said to work beside them in preparing the ’precious
’go out on the highways and the hedges and fruit of the earth’ for the harvest.
compel them to come in.’ This is what He’s ”I am still not sure whether or not I was
doing now. God’s last call to the feast. This there in body, but it seemed like I was. When
is all because of the Father’s great love for I returned I stood alone by the stream, almost
them. like I was between two worlds. I was dazed
135
but more aware than ever that the countdown ”He wanted me to carry the message to
is nearly finished. The sickle has been thrust people who were discouraged and worried
in. We must be alert, awake, full of faith, about their loved ones, wondering whether
alive with His Spirit, and make each breath God really cared in bringing them as they
count for God. were, refusing and rejecting. Some may feel
While in the presence of Jesus I was al- at that time of the trumpet sound that many
lowed to see the terrible days of tribulation of these people have not made their start
ahead from God’s viewpoint. I realize that for God, but God’s love still reaches them!
there are many many different views and They’re going to seal their redemption by
concepts about the tribulation, but I’m just their own death during that time.
telling you what God allowed me to see from ”They will die for their stand and be united
His viewpoint, I can’t tell you everything in at the resurrection, at the close of those days
detail. But from His viewpoint it’s going to of sorrow, with their loved ones who have
be a terrible time on this earth. been taken in the Rapture when He returns
”I met with Gabriel’s angels who have been for those that are His. There’s going to be a
assigned to these tasks. All of them were great reunion as God’s great body moves out
wearing the same type of garment that he into the millennial days. Hallelujah! Then He
wears, and will be extremely active during gave the reference, Revelation 7:9-16. John
the Great Tribulation. God let me see at was allowed to see the same group of people.
that time, and made reference that what I And John said to the angel, ’Who are these?’
was looking at in this tremendous activity of These are they who have by the sacrifice of
angels was not something that He had as- their own life sealed their redemption.’
signed for them at that particular moment, ”The Holy Spirit isn’t going to be totally
but it was part of His great plan and pur- gone, because the Spirit has seven different
pose. We may not have been aware of it, offices that He fills. His office for the church,
but the angelic hosts - and I have discovered that phase will be with us because He’ll never
this in recent months - have been just as ac- leave us! But the Spirit of the Lord is still
tive when it hasn’t been a time of tribulation. going to be working, fulfilling God’s plan in
They have been active in God’s great unfold- another great phase of His work.
ing plan. This is just another phase of his ”These people who have heard but refuse
plan. They have been active all along. are going to be brought up short. I have
”I was allowed to visit briefly with Michael, preached many times that if you can’t live
who also has an important role to fill dur- for God now, you would never be able to in
ing that time. Jesus stated that even the that day ... but God said I was wrong. His
Great Tribulation would not separate men love cannot be separated or destroyed even
and women from his love. That millions will by tribulation! He let Paul see this and he
be saved during that time by their own death, described it in Romans 8: ’Shall tribulation
in standing for God in those days. separate you from the love of God? No!’
136 CHAPTER 28. FACE TO FACE
”This is not telling or encouraging men one side in an affectionate manner.’ And in
and women to go through those awful days that great calling, He is calling us as His bride
of God’s wrath. No, this is telling us that to be with Him during that great joining of
God loves people so much that He has made Christ to His church. ’Called to His side in
a plan for their rescue from this earth. Those an affectionate manner.’ Then Jesus spoke
that remember His Word and His promise to me and said that word was, ’Laid on the
and take their stand and let God know which shelf, never to be used again.’ I looked this
side they’re on. The tribulation is going to up afterwards and it is true, it’s used once.
be a terrible time of the outpouring of God’s Paralambano if you care to look it up, you
wrath upon this world. may. God said it, God did it. There is com-
”People say that for God to be fair to oth- ing a time, real soon on God’s calendar, it’s
ers who have been in tribulation, all must almost here. I don’t know how eternity re-
sufferer tribulation. He told me so lovingly, lates to time but on God’s calendar the count-
’there’s nothing we can earn by our suffer- down is almost finished. He tells us that we
ing, nothing we can add to our salvation. We are to comfort one another with these words.
are saved because of the suffering of Jesus! For a long time, I used to scare people half
It would be totally contrary to the nature to death with these words. But I don’t scare
of God to cause His people to dwell in His them half to death with these words anymore
wrath!” He then reminded me of that beauti- because the Lord has allowed me to see that
ful Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, where He there are three barriers that stand between
said, ’God hath not appointed us to wrath, man and God, and even if we got rid of every
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus sin, we could still not approach Him because
Christ.’ we still have human fault, human failure. But
”He reminded me then of something that I He said that by the covering of the Blood of
didn’t know before. That a little word spelled Jesus Christ that sin is atoned for, that hu-
’taken’ used in Matthew 24, when He was man fault is covered, that human failure is no
speaking about this time, the Rapture, that longer there.
one shall be taken and the other left. There ”He gave me a beautiful verse of Scrip-
are people that have said that this means the ture, Colossians 1:22, where He said that be-
unbeliever taken in death. But what he told cause of the body of His death, we have been
me is that God prepared a word for this usage accepted, holy, unblameable and unreprove-
only, not to be used again. Used only once in able in His sight. All three barriers are gone.
the entire Bible, and that word is the Greek When your faith is in the blood of Jesus, it’s
word, Paralambano 1 which means, ’called to not your performance. For too long we have
1 felt that our acceptance was based on our per-
Although various forms of Paralambano do occur
in other places in the New Testament, the present formance, but it isn’t. It’s based on His per-
indicative passive of Paralambano (paralambanetai)
occurs only in this passage which refers specifically to the coming of Jesus for His people.
137
139
140 CHAPTER 29. NOVEMBER 6, TUESDAY, 1979
Daddy had laughingly told the congregation ple said about him, but we were to love those
there that he had hit the top when he came people. Love seemed so alive in his heart that
to speak to them, and he didn’t know where day, a love that just oozed out of every pore.
he could go from the New Orleans church. The supernatural love of God was so very ev-
The frosting on the cake was spending sev- ident in his life.
eral hours with Jimmy Swaggart. He told me It seemed like daddy literally glowed with
later that he was thrilled as he sensed the health as he ministered to all of us that morn-
warmth and humility in this man. He came ing. I was so glad because earlier I had told
back to Boise more stimulated than he had Alan that I hoped God wouldn’t be lonesome
ever been before. for dad, and take him on a visit to heaven
He was eagerly looking forward to minis- and not let him return.
tering in Lakeland, Florida, with Rev. Carl Early that morning my grandfather,
Strader, and then going to Washington DC Arthur Jacobson, who had been ill for many
to be with Rev. Benny Harris. Reverend years, had gone to be with the Lord. Ar-
Harris had made arrangements for every Sen- rangements had already been made for the
ator, every Congressman, and every govern- funeral to be held after daddy returned from
ment leader to receive a copy of the book, Washington DC.
Angels on Assignment. After the staff meeting, I went to an ice
My brother, Ted, and his wife, Linda, had skating lesson, and was planning to go to
gone to New York for their vacation, and were lunch with a friend. There was a delay in
planning to meet daddy in Washington DC, leaving the rink, which allowed Alan to reach
to be with him during his meeting there. me and tell me that my mother wanted the
It was a beautiful fall morning, November whole family to have lunch together.
6. The sun was shining and the air was crisp Later I was so thankful to God for allowing
outside. Inside, the atmosphere was electric me this last lunch with my dad!
with excitement. It was staff meeting day, Lunch was really fun. The family was sad
and we could hardly wait to hear the reports that Grandpa Jacobson had died, but we all
of victory we knew dad would be sharing with knew that he was with the Lord and released
us. from the binds of illness he had experienced
This particular day, daddy spent the ma- for so long.
jority of the time talking about love and lov- Everyone was laughing and talking at once.
ing one another. He talked over and over Mother’s brother, Maurice, and sister-in-law,
again about how God had told him very Margaret, were here because of Grandpa’s ill-
specifically thru the angel not to defend the ness. Marilyn was able to take time off from
message God had given him to share. He told her job, and daddy was home from all his
us that it was God’s message, and it was up traveling. It seemed good to all to be to-
to God to defend it. He urged all of us just to gether. Marilyn was especially full of fun and
love! We were not to get angry at what peo- really got daddy to laughing.
141
pletely jammed. He had become such a well- A special choir practice had already been
known and beloved figure in the community. scheduled for that Tuesday night. The musi-
Everyone was sitting in the waiting room cal for that year’s Christmas presentation was
praying when the door opened and the at- based on a chapter out of my dad’s book, ”He
tending physician walked in. He went over Tasted Death.” The program had been given
to my mother, took her by the hand and to me in the middle of the night by the Lord,
said, ”We did everything we could, but he’s and daddy had been so excited about the pre-
with God now! I want you to know that this sentation. There was no way to get word to
man affected many lives, including mine!” all the choir members, so they came, many of
The nurse who was there told how much she them not knowing that their precious pastor
had been blessed by Pastor Buck. One of the had gone to be with the Lord.
nuns came over to me and enfolded me in her Something really special took place that
arms telling me that ”Pastor had baptized me night. The people when they heard the news
in water, and had enriched my life.” wanted to come to the church. They couldn’t
Mother was a beautiful tower of strength. think of any place they would rather go. So
She said, ”Let’s have a word of prayer to- that night as the choir came to practice, peo-
gether.” ple started coming into the church until it was
Mother shared later that she felt like ev- completely full. There was a beautiful spirit
ery single day that she had daddy was a very of praise and love. The strong foundation of
special gift from God. She had made up her trust in God that daddy had endeavored to
mind after his last heart attack that she was build all these years was very evident as his
going to live every day with him to the fullest, people came quietly walking into their church
but live it just one day at a time. The Lord and sat in the presence of the Lord the night
gave her immediate peace and a sense of His my daddy went to be with God.
presence the day she lost both her father and One of my dad’s goals had been to see
her husband of thirty-seven years. the mid-week service completely full of people
”One of the things my husband spoke of praising God. The Wednesday following his
often was that God is righteous! He has the death the church was full to the rafters. Many
unfailing ability to always do the right thing! people came forward and shared what he had
This helped me so much following the time meant in their lives. It was wonderful. The
when the Father called Roland home. How congregation seemed to band together with a
could I say ’Why God?’ when I knew he was very special love and unity.
in the Father’s hands all along.” The Lord cares about his children so very
The hospital had to send out a news release much . His care was in evidence in His mak-
thru the media to relieve their switchboard. ing sure that I was able to be at that last
Many of the congregation heard on television lunch with dad.
the news that their beloved pastor had gone My sister, Charm, was also included in
to be with the Lord. God’s comforting plan.
143
”I’ll never forget the day when my little sis- were on vacation on the East Coast, and we
ter, Marilyn, called with the news that dad’s had been alternating calling her folks, then
heart had stopped. She said that he hadn’t mine, just to say, ’Hi,’ and see what was going
been breathing for about five or ten minutes. on.
I felt like my heart quit beating. It was like To give you a idea of the balance in dad’s
when your legs turn to water. life, he wasn’t an overgrown spirit, he was
”Bryan was working on the new building. someone who was interested in things they
My first feeling was panic. I felt like scream- were going on here, even with all the angelic
ing, but I went out in the yard, and called visitations. The previous Saturday, Linda
Bryan over and I told him what had taken and I had given our tickets to the Bronco
place. Thru a miracle the Lord had worked football game to dad, since we were going to
out before, we were in Boise about twenty be out of town. He had gone to the game with
minutes after the family left the hospital. I Sharon and Alan and watched Boise State
believe it was a miracle the Lord performed play. Most of our last conversation was how
to show how much He really cares for us. much he enjoyed himself. He had watched
”Naomi arranged for me and the children the quarterback do a lot of passing, and it
to fly to Boise the next day. When I found had been an exciting game. We shared for a
out that grandpa had passed away, and that while then I hung up, little realizing that this
dad wasn’t going to be able to preach the fu- would be the last time I would talk to him on
neral until the following Tuesday, we planned this earth.
to cancel our tickets and go when the fu- We were in Philadelphia. We had gone to
neral was held. I thought I could be of more see the Liberty Bell, and then had driven
help then. In the meantime, I had packed down to Washington DC. I said to Linda,
suitcases for the family. Bryan’s folks were ’Why don’t we call your folks tonight since
at our house at the time, so when the call we called mine last night?’ She called her
came about dad, I called the airport, changed mom and talked to her. Finally her mom
our reservations, and Bryan and I were on said, ’Linda, there’s something I have to tell
the plane within forty-five minutes. We were you.’ Linda hung up and turned to me with
home almost immediately after dad passed a strange look on her face. She said, ’Ted,
away. This was a real blessing to me.” your grandpa died this morning,’ and with-
Everyone was worried about Ted and his out stopping she added softly, ’And your fa-
reaction to the news since he was so far away ther had a heart attack and died this after-
from home. Ted had been so close to dad, and noon.’ I looked at her with unbelief, and said,
Linda had been totally adopted as a daughter ’You mean dad’s dead?’ Dad was so full of
by him and held a very special place in his life I could not picture him not walking on
heart as Ted’s wife. this earth. She said, ’Yes, we’d better call
Ted: The last time I talked with my dad your mom.’ It was as if I was numb for a
was Monday night, November 5. Linda and I second, and then I dialed the phone num-
144 CHAPTER 29. NOVEMBER 6, TUESDAY, 1979
ber. Alan answered and called mom to the maybe someone would come who would take
phone. I asked her how she was, and then I the ministry that Pastor and Mrs. Buck had
told her that I had such a strange peace in developed and turn it into a program.
my heart that shouldn’t be there. It didn’t As I was out under the stars walking in the
make sense. But I knew where dad was and cool night air, cars were whizzing by, there
I felt a peace about it. If there had been was a frenzy of activity all around. In the
one thing in life that I really feared, it was midst of this noise in downtown Washington
when I would lose my father because of how DC, I set my spiritual jaw. I began to think,
much he had taught me and how much I had ’What if God would let me take my father’s
leaned on him. He was my earthly father and place?’ Then I thought about the fact that
my spiritual leader, and he was gone! I felt I didn’t have any seminary training. I had
a tranquility inside me like a storm had oc- attended the Roland Buck University for 28
curred in some way, but yet a calm came. 1/2 years, though, and I began to wonder if
There was no crying out, or striking out at there would be any way that I could be a
God because I knew it had to be God’s plan. pastor, although I didn’t think I would be
I said, ’Linda, I need to go out for a while able to in my own strength. I went to bed
and do a little praying and talking to God.’ still thinking about these things.
I went out for about a half hour. As I was We cut our vacation short, and the next
walking down a very busy street in Washing- day caught a plane home. I began to come
ton DC, I prayed, ’God, somehow I would like back to reality and to realize that it would be
to be able to talk to dad.’ Then I began to very difficult for me to be able to be pastor of
share just like I was talking to dad. Of course this church. I told Linda this, and she said,
he didn’t answer, but I thanked him for what ’Ted, remember what your Dad always said,
he had meant in my life. I thanked him for ”If God is in something, it will happen with
the picture of God that he had shown me, for no strain or stress or human manipulation.””
the time he had invested in me, for the her- We both were able to relax in this truth.
itage he had given me. I poured out my heart By the time I got home, I had nearly re-
to him and let him know how much I loved solved that there would be no way it would
him. I told dad that I didn’t want him to be work for me to pastor. But I did determine
ashamed of how I conducted myself now that that as a life-time member of this church, I
he was gone. Then I talked to the Lord about would stand up and have a say in what oc-
the church. The was part of mom and dad. curred in the future.
They had spent so many years pouring their The day after we had arrived, mom and I
very lives into it. I saw the church as a ripe were at the church talking, and Johnny Hisel,
plum to be picked by someone, not necessar- the senior deacon, came in. I told him that
ily a bad person, but someone who saw it as I would take a one-month leave of absence
a stepping stone, or a place to get away to, or from my business, and work with my mom
maybe for someone a nice place to retire. Or in the interim period. Three days later the
145
Coronation
On Friday, November 9, there were two cas- been helped through daddy’s ministry.
kets in the front of the sanctuary of Central My mother asked the choir and band to
Assembly instead of one. But my mother had sing and play several of daddy’s favorite
declared that this funeral was going to be a songs. One of the songs, entitled ’The Life
celebration time, a coronation day for daddy Giver’, featured my brother, Ted, on the solo.
filled with triumph and victory! My sister, Marilyn, was also featured on an-
And that’s just what happened. God al- other favorite, ’Jesus the Resurrection.’ Both
lowed that day to be beautiful with the sun of them received divine strength, and so did
shining and the sky bright blue. I as I directed the choir.
Since there were going to be two services, The presence of God was very real as dad’s
one at 11:00 AM and the other at 1:00 PM, special brother, Reverend Walter Buck, stood
many of the people took the entire day off up to preach the coronation message. The
from work. The first service was for Grandpa tribute that uncle Walt paid to his brother
Jacobson. He had been ill for so long. He through that message was so beautiful that
wasn’t very well known in the church, but be- I felt it needed to be included in this book
cause of the people who took off work, there about my father.
were about 500 people at his funeral. This ”I want you to know that this is holy
was very special to grandma. Grandpa’s ser- ground. I do not feel worthy of untying my
vice was blessed with honor and dignity. brother’s shoes. I feel very honored at the
Daddy’s funeral was possibly the largest fu- privilege of standing here today. This plat-
neral that had been ever held in the State form has become a forum from which one of
of Idaho with over 3500 people attending. God’s very good friends, and one of His most
Closed circuit TV was set up in the larger productive mouthpieces, has declared rich
rooms so that people who couldn’t get in the and supernaturally conceived, life-changing
main sanctuary could still view the service. truth. You attest to that fact; this church full
People flew in from all over the country. Mul- of people whose lives have been changed thru
titudes wrote to share how much they had the life and thru the lips of this low key, unas-
147
148 CHAPTER 30. CORONATION
suming brother of mine, husband of Charm, today, made this statement, ’With the bold-
father of these beautiful young people who ness of faith we have never seen in anyone,
have blessed us. Roland Buck has a total release of freedom
”Thru this beautiful man, God has cho- in sharing what is happening in his own life.’
sen to touch not only an entire city, but far ”My brother and I had the joy, a year and
beyond the borders of this city. The influ- a half ago, of teaching the Spiritual Empha-
ence of this life, through tapes, publications sis Week at Northwest College. We had a
and platform ministry, across the length and great time. The president of the school, Dew
breadth of this nation and around the world Hearst, who is also here today, came out with
is awesome in its outreach. I know that we’re a line that I thought was a classic concern-
not here to make people forget Jesus, for ing my brother. At the end of that meeting,
the very thing that epitomized my brother he looked at the students and said, ’Young
Roland, was the fact that he always wanted people, we’ve had two very different kinds of
to stand aside, and let people see Jesus. We people here this week. One of these men has
want to do that today, yet it is very diffi- kept us on the edge of our seats, and the other
cult for us to talk about Jesus without talking one has kept us on the edge of eternity.’
about Roland because they were very close. You know why my brother was keeping
My brother’s life was intertwined with the people on the edge of eternity? That’s where
loveliness of Jesus Christ. I would like to say he lived! He was living in two worlds at the
to you dear friend, that Pastor Roland Buck same time. He just got close to the other
was somebody extra special, not only to his world than this world, and God said, ’There’s
family, his church, and his community, but no point in your going back!”
I feel that he was very, very special to God. ”I was at my brother’s home this morning,
God had chosen to use my brother in such a and the phone rang. Everybody was busy, so
way that those of us who knew him the best, I answered it. It was a lady calling from Mar-
had to stand in awe. It made me almost a ion, Ohio. She said, ’Is Brother Buck there?’
little envious at times. I said, ’Well, I’m Brother Buck, but I don’t
”I was captivated by a little sentence that think I’m the one you’re looking for.’ I’ve
Jimmy Swaggart printed in his magazine, been saying this now for the past year, and I
The Evangelist, concerning Roland’s tapes. ’I just want you to know I’m happy to take that
listened to the tapes with rapt attention, and position, praise God! I told this lady that
a tremendous stirring in my heart. I sensed I Roland had been promoted and that he’s in
was in the presence of Almighty God. This is another phase of a terrific ministry, and that
a beautiful word from one of God’s choice ser- we were going to have a memorial service for
vants.’ He continued to say, ’The things that him today. She said, ’I read his book last
happened in this life are probably one of the night, and it changed my life!’ This is hap-
greatest miracles of the twentieth century!” pening again, and again, and again.
”Charles and Frances Hunter, who are here ”I know what is going through some of our
149
that Pastor Buck was immortal until his work ”For twenty years Roland served his
was done, and then He moved into Glorious church. It was a good normal growth. God’s
Eternal Immortality. presence was real; people found the Lord.
”Roland was so steady, strong, and stable But then something really happened. All the
that we kind of thought that if anything hap- time there were indications of a special su-
pens we can put another tube in and he’ll pernatural touch.
just go on forever. But our times are in God’s ”I remember one time in your old building,
hands, and Roland’s times were in His hands. on a Sunday, when I preached for Rol. He
God had scheduled every moment of Roland’s nudged me and said, ’See that couple over
life. He knew all about Tuesday of this week, there? Remind me to tell you about them
years and years ago. after church.’ God had revealed these people
”When we walk with Christ and we’re led to him before the service one morning. He
by His Spirit, we posses His life, until our told Roland to ’Go to the foyer, they’re com-
appointed time comes, we can say to epi- ing in about now, so go meet them and bring
demic, or danger, or to whatever would cast them in your office. They’re ready right now
a shadow on our lives, ’You have no power to accept Jesus.’ My brother met these peo-
against me except it was given you of God!’ ple, and took them in the office, and led them
”I asked Roland one day, ’How in the world to the Lord. He said, ’I walked into my pul-
do you keep going like you do?’ he said, ’Well, pit ten feet tall that morning, realizing that I
the Lord kind of moved my heart over to one wasn’t doing this alone, but God cares about
side, and connected me with His big heart.’ I people.’ That was the theme of his life.
believe that too! ”I encourage you, dear friends, if you
”I was in the Evangel Bookstore in haven’t met Christ, I know what Roland
Spokane, and one by one all the personnel of would want you to do. His whole life was
that store who have met Roland, and loved lived to touch people and bring them into the
him, came by and said that they were sorry, kingdom. I challenge you to make sure that
and hurt with me. I thanked each one of you are keeping eternal values in view.”
them, as they came. While they were com- At the close of my uncle’s remarks, the
ing and talking with me, right beside was a Singing Ambassadors once again sang the
table stacked with 200 books entitled, Angels beautiful song of victory, ”The Hallelujah
on Assignment, the Holy Spirit whispered to Chorus.” The choir was more anointed this
me that ”Though he is dead, in our human time than they were when they had sung it
parlance yet he speaketh!’ the year before for the heavenly visitor. I per-
”And Roland’s voice is being heard again, sonally felt the presence of God in the place,
and again, and again. You know the word the and I felt that thousands of angels attended
Holy Spirit dropped in my heart was that his my father’s coronation service.
ministry, rather than dying, is exploding, and Usually when a funeral service is over, the
only God knows the end result. people file by the casket, and family is the
151
The Sunday following coronation day, my Christ? Here I am, an accounting major, in
brother, the new Pastor Ted Buck, stepped business for 5 1/2 years, how in the world can
up to the pulpit for the very first time in this I step into the shoes of a man like this?’
capacity. He was twenty-eight years old and ”I knew that I didn’t feel any sense of com-
he looked very young. petition with dad. I was his biggest supporter
The church was so packed with people, the No one thinks more of him than I do, unless
overflow area had to be opened. Those who it would be the Lord or mom.
thought they had time to play around, but ”I was really nervous about how I was go-
would some day accept the Lord into their ing to step into the pulpit of a man like that.
lives, came to Jesus by the hundreds after
”As I sat in his big chair, where he had
my father’s death.
been visited numerous times by angels, I
The night before Ted’s first service as pas- looked around, but they weren’t there. I be-
tor, he went to dad’s office. gan to open my heart up to God asking Him
”There had been a lot of activity going on. for help. He flooded my heart with His pres-
The coronation service had been the day be- ence, a very special presence. It was not a
fore, then there had been a wedding, so by unique experience like an angelic visitation,
the time I finally had some time to myself, it but it was God saying to me, ’I’m here!’ At
was 11 PM. that point I felt confidence burning in my
”I began to pray and think ’How can I step heart because God had met me, and I had
into the pulpit of a man who had ministered something to say. I knew beyond a shadow
for forty years, pastored this church for al- of a doubt that this was my destiny. No man
most thirty years, who had talked to with had placed me there, but God had chosen me
angels, and who had walked so closely with to be the pastor of Central Assembly Chris-
God? He had talked face-to-face with Jesus tian Life Center.”
153
154 CHAPTER 31. EPILOGUE: WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE MESSAGE?
Afterword
I have shared thru the pages of this book of God’s love has touched you and made you
the true story of a man I knew very well as aware of what God is really like!
my father, my pastor, and my boss. I have One of dad’s favorite sermonettes was that
tried to give you a glimpse of his great sense God planned for everyone to spend eternity
of humor and his down-to-earth humanity. I with Him. He is not willing that any should
have wanted to share with you a man, who perish. When a person is born, his name is
although very special, was still just an ordi- written in God’s Big Book, and is not re-
nary man. However, of utmost importance is moved until he or she dies without accepting
the way this special, yet ordinary man was what Christ has done.
unique in the way he walked with God. Daddy used to say that Jesus reserved a
Dr. Hurst, president of Northwest Col- place for everyone in heaven by His sacri-
lege wrote in the Northwesterner, ”One of fice at Calvary, but it’s up to each individual
the classic statements of Scripture was said to confirm, or pick up that reservation that
of Enoch, ”He walked with God, and was not Christ made for them.
for God took him.” For those who knew the If you haven’t already ”confirmed your
late Reverend Buck the same statement could reservation,” why not confirm it right now?
be said of him. He walked with God ... God Just pray this simple prayer.
took him. Roland was more than a champion ”Father God, I accept what Jesus has done
of the supernatural, he was a channel. Per- for me by His death on the Cross. I invite
haps no greater tribute can be paid to Roland you into my life right now. Forgive all my
Buck than this. He was an ordinary man who sins. Thank you Jesus.”
believed God and walked with God. Thru his Now, no matter where you are coming
life and ministry God has brought to Himself from, or how bad you feel you have been, at
multitudes of men He has purposed to save.” this moment in God’s eyes, you are as clean
The message that was given to my father and pure as a new born baby. You are inno-
by angelic messenger continues to reach out cent, and made as though you had never ever
and touch lives today. Perhaps this message sinned. Praise the Lord!
155
156 CHAPTER 32. AFTERWORD
Daddy always told people after they had END of BOOK but NOT end of story.
”confirmed their reservations” - ”Just like Jesus has Risen and is
pounding a nail in a board, you clinch it Coming Back Soon!
by bending the nail over on the other side!” He Cares and Calls for YOU!
He had people clinch what had happened to ************************
them by calling someone and letting them Pastor Ted Buck
know what Jesus had done for them. If you Central Assembly
have accepted Jesus in your life for the first 12000 Fairview Avenue
time, or renewed your dedication to Him, why Boise, Idaho 83713
not clinch it, by calling someone and letting (208) 376–7272
them rejoice with you in what Jesus has done.
Now, why not do one more thing. I would
love to hear from you how the message of
God’s love and care touched your life. Why
not drop a note in the mail to me.
Now, begin reading your Bible and be sure
to find one that’s easy for you to understand.
The main purpose of the Bible is to show us
what God is like. It will really help you get
to know Him.
And then find a good church where the
Bible is taught. Worship and fellowship with
other Christians will help you tremendously
in your walk with Christ.
Thank you for letting this beautiful mes-
sage of God’s love and care touch your life!